What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a chatbot, a piece of software that simulates a human conversation. On the ChatGPT website you will find a simple input window, just like a search engine. Anyone who registers on the site can type in any question free of charge.
ChatGPT comes from the US company OpenAI, which specializes in research into artificial intelligence. More precisely, ChatGPT originally comes from the non-profit parent company OpenAI Inc. The for-profit subsidiary that belongs to it is called OpenAI LP. The organization’s main financial backers were the entrepreneur Elon Musk (known for Tesla and SpaceX) and the company Microsoft. Microsoft has since become one of the largest investors in ChatGPT and its parent company OpenAI.
You can find out more about “What is ChatGPT?” in one of my last blog posts.
The development of ChatGPT: a brief overview
The creation of ChatGPT is the result of years of research and development in the field of artificial intelligence. It originally began with the aim of enabling human-like dialog between computers and humans. The underlying technology is based on neural networks that are trained to understand and respond to natural language.
ChatGPT was trained using large amounts of text data from the Internet, including books, articles, websites and much more. This data was used to train the model on language patterns, syntax and semantics. The developers also used a technique called “supervised fine-tuning”, where human experts guided the model and gave it feedback to improve its performance.
The name “ChatGPT” stands for “Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer”, where “Transformer” refers to the special architecture of the neural network. The model uses a form of machine learning in which large amounts of data are used to gain a general understanding of language.
The emergence of ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with computers. It can be used in various applications, from customer support chatbots to personal assistance in daily communication. ChatGPT is constantly evolving to further improve the performance and capabilities of the model and respond to user needs.
What are ChatGPT prompts? The mechanism behind the prompts
In the context of ChatGPT, the term “prompts” refers to the initial sentences or questions used to start a conversation with the model. When you interact with ChatGPT, you enter a prompt that serves as input for the model. The prompt can be a simple question, a statement or a sentence that indicates the context or the desired topic of the conversation.
The model analyzes the input prompt and generates a response based on its previous training and the pattern it has learned from the training data. The quality of the answer depends on the type and clarity of the prompt as well as the skills of the model.
Prompts are important to control the desired type of conversation and to receive precise responses from ChatGPT. Well-formulated and specific prompts can help to achieve better results and focus the model on the desired topic or task.
It is also possible to enter several sentences or a longer conversation as a prompt in order to have a context-rich dialog with ChatGPT. By configuring the prompt accordingly, you can obtain the desired information or answers. In the podcast episode #89 with Roman Zoun you will find even more information and tips about the right prompting.
The art of prompt creation: What makes a good prompt?
A good prompt for ChatGPT has some important features that help to get high quality and relevant responses from the model. Here are a few important tips for ChatGPT prompts:
- Clarity: The prompt should be clear and precise so that the model understands exactly what you expect. Avoid ambiguities or unclear formulations.
- Specificity: The more specific the prompt is, the better ChatGPT can respond to your request. Ask clear questions or give precise information to get specific answers.
- Context: If you want to continue a conversation, provide the previous dialog or relevant background information as part of the prompt. This helps ChatGPT to understand the context and respond appropriately.
- Instructions: Add clear instructions or guidelines as needed to control the behavior or type of response. For example, you can ask ChatGPT to take a certain perspective or answer a question.
- Length: A good prompt should be neither too short nor too long. Avoid sentences that are too short or incomplete, but don’t keep the prompt too long and overloaded either. A balanced length allows ChatGPT to better capture the context and generate relevant responses.
It is important to note that ChatGPT is still a machine learning model and may not always produce the desired results. However, by experimenting with different wording and adapting the prompt, you can increase the likelihood of getting useful and satisfactory answers.
You can find more tips on prompting in one of my last posts.
Diverse application examples: Where are ChatGPT prompts used?
The applications for ChatGPT Prompts are just as broad as the capabilities of the chatbot. The following are some widely used areas of application.
- Text generation
ChatGPT can be used as a writing tool by giving it an initial sentence or question as a prompt and then generating a continuous response. This can be helpful for brainstorming ideas, writing stories or simply interacting with the model.
Example: “Tell me a story about a brave adventurer who gets lost in a mysterious jungle.”
- Translation help
If you need a translation, ChatGPT can be used as an aid. By entering the sentence or text in the source language as a prompt, the model can generate a translation into the desired target language.
Example: “Translate the sentence ‘Hello, how are you?” into French.”
- Research support
ChatGPT can be used to assist with research by giving it a question or topic as a prompt and the model will then provide relevant information or facts.
Example: “What are the effects of climate change on the Arctic?”
- Assistance with technical problems
If you have technical problems, ChatGPT can act as a virtual technician. By giving a detailed description of the problem as a prompt, the model can suggest possible solutions or diagnoses.
Example: “My computer no longer starts and displays a blue screen. What could be the problem?”
- Virtual assistant
ChatGPT can be used as a virtual assistant to retrieve information, make appointments, give recommendations or answer general questions.
Example: “Find the nearest restaurant that serves Italian cuisine.”
The influence of the quality of the prompt on the answer: How does the wording affect the answer?
The wording of the ChatGPT prompt can affect the quality of the response. Here are some aspects you should consider:
- Clarity and specificity:
The clearer and more specific the prompt is formulated, the better the model can understand what is expected of it. If the prompt is vague or unclear, this can lead to inaccurate or irrelevant answers.
Example: Bad prompt: “Tell me something about cars.”
Better prompt: “Explain the differences between gasoline and electric cars in terms of their environmental impact.”
- Context and background information
Sometimes ChatGPT needs additional information to understand the context or specificity of the prompt. Adding relevant background information can help make the response more accurate and targeted.
Example: Bad prompt: “What’s the weather?”
Better prompt: “Can you tell me what the weather will be like in Berlin this afternoon?”
- Style and tone
You can influence the desired response style by selecting the style and tone of voice in the prompt. For example, if you want to be polite, informal or technical, you can express this in the prompt.
Example: Bad prompt: “What’s the weather like in New York?”
Better prompt: “Can you please tell me what the weather is like in New York at the moment?”
- Ask precise questions
Ask precise questions to obtain specific information. Open-ended questions can lead to broad or general answers, while closed-ended questions offer a narrower range of answers.
Example: Bad prompt: “What do you think about climate change?”
Better prompt: “What impact does climate change have on biodiversity in the rainforests?”
Common mistakes when creating prompts: what should be avoided?
When prompting for ChatGPT, there are a few things you should avoid at all costs in order to get a quality response and avoid potentially unwanted results. Here are a few mistakes that you should NOT make under any circumstances:
- Ambiguous or vague questions
Avoid questions or prompts that are ambiguous or vague as they may lead to unclear or inaccurate answers. The more precise and specific the prompt is, the better the model can react to it.
Bad example: “Tell me about animals.”
Better example: “Can you give me information about pandas? What are their natural habitats?”
- Long and complex sentences
Avoid too long and complex sentences in the prompt. ChatGPT may have difficulty interpreting such sentences correctly and responding appropriately. Shorter, clearly formulated sentences are generally more effective.
Bad example: “After I turned on my computer yesterday and tried to open a file saved on my desktop, I noticed that the operating system was not responding and the screen went black. Could you please tell me what the problem could be?”
Better example: “My computer won’t start and shows a black screen. What could be the problem?”
- Leading questions
Avoid leading questions that push the model in a certain direction or suggest a desired answer. This could potentially generate inaccurate or biased responses.
Bad example: “Aren’t electric cars much better than conventional cars?”
Better example: “Can you explain the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars compared to conventional cars?”
- Specific instructions
Avoids overly specific instructions in the prompt that force the model into a certain response form or structure. This can limit the flexibility of the model and reduce the quality of the response.
Bad example: “Answer with exactly two sentences.”
Better example: “Can you please give me a short summary of the book?”
- Inappropriate or offensive content
Avoid the use of inappropriate or offensive content in the prompt. ChatGPT will respond to respectful and fair interaction, and the use of such content is not recommended and may result in inappropriate responses. It is important to be clear and concise, provide appropriate context and communicate respectfully to achieve the best possible results with ChatGPT.
Use ChatGPT carefully and responsibly
By the way, I also offer a broad program on the mindful and responsible use of AI technologies, such as ChatGPT and Co. Find out more on my page on AI with foresight.
The 5 best ChatGPT prompts
The following graphic shows 5 successful prompts for different areas of application. In principle, however, there is no one good prompt; it depends on your application and your objectives. It’s best to try it out for yourself and use these prompts as inspiration.
| Content | Shorten this text to 300 characters-Improve this text. Goal: More sales. Target group: HR marketing at a large company-Generate a creative LinkedIn calendar for the next two weeks for [Produktname]. Target: 20 likes and 10 comments per post. |
| HR / Recruiting | [Rolle] Create 3 rounds of challenges to assemble the best candidates for [Rolle] and make sure that the participants have the deep knowledge and [Fähigkeiten] required to solve the challenge. Create unique, novel challenges designed to bring out the full potential of candidates. Each round should test the [Fähigkeiten] and knowledge harder than the round before. |
| Critical thinking / brainstorming | Apply the Six Thinking Hats technique to [Entscheidung/Problem] and summarize the insights you have gained from each hat. Imagine you could ask [Branchenexperte] about [bestimmte Entscheidung]. What questions would you ask him and what insights do you think he would share?” |
| Learning | [Skill you want to learn] Help me learn the above skill. Give me tips, resources and practical exercises to help me improve and excel in this area. -[Buchtitel und Autor] Summarize the key concepts from the above book and provide a simplified explanation that will help me understand and apply the idea effectively. |
| Research | Can you help me give a list of the top ChatGPT prompts that will allow the best in class [Position] to get better results with less work? |
How do I create good prompts? Instructions to copy
The prompts shown above are a good place to start with AI technologies such as ChatGPT, Perplexity or Gemini. But you will probably also want to create your own prompts. This guide to “Build your own prompt” can certainly help you.
And you can find even more and specific prompts on these pages:
- ChatGPT prompts for the education sector
- ChatGPT Prompts for Finance
- Prompt list for marketing and communication
- ChatGPT Prompts for Health
- Prompt template for medical reports
The future of ChatGPT and its prompts: What can we expect in the future?
In recent months, the concept of prompt engineering has become increasingly important. There are even the first job advertisements that have integrated prompt engineering skills as an important requirement. If ChatGPT is used more and more in the future, as is currently often predicted, prompts and the ability to “correctly” prompt will also become increasingly important.
It goes one step further – prompts could now become a “creative” work in their own right and this would mean that prompts would even become protectable works within the meaning of copyright law.
Conclusion: Why are ChatGPT prompts so important in AI communication?
ChatGPT has long since ceased to be anything special. Anyone can use it, anyone can ask ChatGPT questions or place orders. What is important, however, is the way in which the questions are asked and the form in which the commands are given. Only those who have mastered the prompting technique correctly will receive suitable responses from ChatGPT.
Correct prompting is particularly relevant if ChatGPT is to answer more than just questions. Namely, if it is to truly complement and support people and contribute to increasing human efficiency and quality.
ChatGPT Prompts – Can you learn it?
Yes, of course you can learn to prompt properly. I’ve recently given a few talks on the subject and also held a few workshops on ChatGPT prompts. If you are also interested in developing yourself further in the field of prompting, just write me a WhatsApp message or an e-mail.
This article is also available as a podcast episode
Attention! The podcast was created entirely by my AI-Assistant based on my contribution – no guarantee for incorrect content.
ChatGPT Prompts – Frequently asked questions & answers
What are ChatGPT prompts?
ChatGPT prompts are prompts or instructions given to the model to get it to generate certain types of responses.
How does a ChatGPT prompt work?
A ChatGPT prompt is entered into the model, which then generates a response based on the information provided and its trained model.
What makes a good ChatGPT prompt?
A good prompt is clear, concise and provides enough context for the model to generate an appropriate and informative response.
In which areas are ChatGPT prompts used?
ChatGPT prompts are used in many areas including customer support, content creation, language translation, pedagogy, gaming and many more.
How does the quality of the prompt affect ChatGPT’s response?
The quality and clarity of the prompt can greatly influence how precise and nuanced ChatGPT’s response is. Imprecise or vague prompts can lead to less useful answers.
Are there common errors when creating ChatGPT prompts?
Yes, common mistakes include being too vague or too broad, ignoring context, or assuming the model has more information than it actually does.
What can I do to create better prompts for ChatGPT?
It helps to be clear and specific, provide enough context and include relevant information in the prompt. It is also helpful to think of the model as a very well-informed text generator rather than an omniscient one.
