How to ask AI the right questions
December 18, 2024
Knowing how to ask the right questions is crucial to making the most of artificial intelligence tools. Learning how to effectively communicate with AI can significantly enhance your learning experience by being able to more efficiently obtain information and insights.
What is prompting?
To work generative AI tools such as Open AI ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and others, you will need to learn the art of prompting. Prompting is a technique used when working with generative AI products to create content. It’s like giving directions and refining the responses through conversation. There is an art and a science to prompting. Learning how to create effective prompts is a skill that can unlock value more quickly and effectively.
How do I write prompts?
When crafting prompts, clarity is key. A well-structured prompt typically includes four components:
- Role: who you want it to act like.
- Context: the more details, the better.
- Task: what you ask of it.
- Format: how you want to receive the response.
The basic prompt formula is: Declare a [ROLE]. Give [CONTEXT]. Create a [TASK] and specify [FORMAT].
For example, you might say, “You are a college student studying U.S. government. Please create a 20-question study guide for a test on the U.S. Constitution.”
By using this basic prompt formula, AI can generate more relevant and useful responses.
Guidelines for creating good prompts
When interacting with AI, it’s also important to keep the following guidelines in mind to create good prompts:
- Use correct spelling and grammar.
- Avoid asking vague questions. Be clear, specific, and detailed about your request.
- Provide context to narrow the focus of the response.
- Break down complex requests into multiple shorter prompts.
- Provide feedback to fine-tune results.
For example, instead of asking, “Tell me about the presidency,” specify, “What are the main powers and functions of the U.S. president as listed in Article II of the U.S. Constitution?”
It’s also essential to recognize AI’s limitations. While these tools can provide valuable information, they can make mistakes and provide information out of context. Be sure to ask AI to cite sources in its output. Similar to how you evaluate research and online sources, always critically evaluate the output, fact-check important information, and be prepared to ask follow-up questions for clarification.
Mastering the art of questioning AI will not only supplement your academic journey but also equip you with skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s technology-driven world.
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