What are prompts?

Since the launch of the AI chatbot ChatGPT, it’s hard to imagine the AI world without the term “prompt”. The term “prompt” serves as a kind of instruction or question that you address to an AI system in order to generate a specific response or output. These prompts vary greatly in complexity – from simple commands that ask an AI model to generate a specific text, to complicated sentences aimed at getting creative or analytical responses from more advanced models such as ChatGPT. The art of creating effective prompts lies not only in understanding how AI works, but also in how we precisely formulate the query to achieve the desired result.

Why is the art of prompting becoming increasingly relevant?

Prompts are becoming increasingly important when it comes to the successful interaction and use of AI systems. They are the primary means by which we interact with AI models, from simple chatbots to complex systems capable of generating text, creating images or even composing music. In an environment where interaction with AI is becoming increasingly intuitive, prompts play a crucial role in shaping these experiences. They enable us to control and adapt the enormous processing power of AI systems such as ChatGPT or SwissGPT so that individual, creative and, above all, useful results can be achieved. The better you master the skills of the prompt, the more successful your “cooperation” with AI tools will be.

What are the areas of application for prompts?

The variety of prompts and their applications in AI tools is remarkable and reflects the flexibility of modern AI systems. Text-based prompts, such as those used in ChatGPT, SwissGPT or other text generation models, allow us to ask questions, generate creative stories or even write code. Image-based prompts in models such as DALL-E or comparable image generation tools open up the possibility of creating visual content by describing scenes, objects or even moods. In addition, AI tools are used in music and audio production that can react to acoustic prompts in order to compose new pieces of music or soundscapes. Prompts can even be used in the field of software engineering. For example, for code reviews or to generate entire lines of code.

What makes a good prompt?

Best practices for prompts

Creating effective prompts is an art that requires both clarity and creativity to get the desired results from an AI. A fundamental best practice is precision in formulation. A well-designed prompt should be specific enough to give the AI a clear direction, but not so narrow that it limits the AI’s creative or analytical abilities. For example, a prompt for a text generation model should not only specify the topic, but also take into account the desired tone, style and scope of the response. This can be done by using adjectives that set the tone (e.g. humorous, serious, informative), by indicating a specific format (e.g. a dialog, a letter, a blog post), or by introducing a particular perspective or context. The adaptation of the prompt to the capabilities and knowledge level of the AI model is also important. An understanding of what the AI can do based on its training and database makes it possible to formulate prompts that achieve realistic and achievable results.

In the article on Prompt Best Practices 2024 you can download a list of my current recipes for success for prompts. I have also put together various prompt lists for you to download, depending on your target group.

Avoidance of misunderstandings

To avoid misunderstandings between the user’s intention and the AI’s interpretation, it is crucial to minimize ambiguities in the prompt. Frequent errors occur when prompts are formulated too openly or vaguely, which leads to the AI generating answers that do not meet our expectations. It is helpful to clearly define the desired response or target before entering a prompt and to structure the prompt accordingly. The use of contextual information within the prompt can also help to improve the accuracy of AI responses. For example, the inclusion of background information or the explicit instruction to ignore or consider certain sources of information can increase the relevance and precision of the generated content. After all, it is important to learn by experimenting and adapting. By analyzing the AI’s responses to different wordings of the same prompt, we can develop a deeper understanding of how its word choices influence the results and thus refine our own abilities to create effective prompts.

Application examples of prompts

Prompts for creative writing

In the field of (creative) writing, prompts prove to be a valuable tool for stimulating the imagination, breaking through writer’s block or providing an initial jump-start. Whether you’re a content creator or simply aiming to write a creative post or email, the right prompts will help you familiarize yourself with new topics, better understand the context and ultimately write compelling copy.

Prompts for image generation

Prompts have taken on an important role in image generation, particularly with the introduction of AI tools such as DALL-E. These tools enable users to create complex and visually appealing images by entering detailed descriptions in text form. The accuracy and creativity of the results depend heavily on the quality of the prompt. Detailed prompts that specify colors, moods, objects and their arrangement often lead to impressive and precise images. This technology opens up new possibilities for designers, artists and creative minds by making it possible to visualize visual ideas quickly and without advanced drawing skills.

Prompts in the education sector

In education, prompts play a central role in promoting critical thinking and improving the learning process. Teachers use prompts to stimulate discussion, sharpen problem-solving skills and motivate students to reflect on complex topics. By asking specific questions that encourage exploration and analysis, students can be encouraged to think beyond the subject matter and draw their own conclusions. This method not only encourages active participation in the learning process, but also helps to deepen understanding and promotes the ability to apply knowledge in new and unfamiliar contexts. It is important that the prompts are used correctly and that students and teachers do not forget how to think for themselves. It’s not about handing over schoolwork to AI tools, but rather about improving schoolwork together with the AI.

Challenges and ethical considerations

In addition to all the advantages, the use of prompts in artificial intelligence also brings with it the potential for misuse. Prompts can be used to trigger AI systems to generate misleading, biased or harmful content, which can facilitate the spread of disinformation, reinforce stereotypes or even generate digital misinformation. The SRF report explains how criminals use the ChatGPT AI tool for malware, for example.

Against this backdrop, the responsible use of prompts and AI technologies is crucial. Educating and sensitizing users about the potential risks and promoting an ethical perspective when dealing with AI are important steps in this regard. In my opinion, the responsible use of AI requires a collaborative effort that takes into account not only the technical aspects, but also the social, cultural and ethical dimensions of the technology to ensure that the benefits of AI are maximized and its risks minimized.

A look into the future: what can we expect?

The future of using prompts in AI promises to significantly push the boundaries of what is possible today and fundamentally change the way we humans interact with AI. I suspect that everything you’ve read above about prompts is just the beginning of the new discipline of prompting. Advances in natural language processing could lead to AI models that not only understand the explicit instructions within a prompt, but also capture implicit meanings, intentions and the emotional state of the user. These developments could enable a deeper, more empathetic interaction between us humans and AI, where the technology is able to respond to the needs and moods of users in a way that is almost unimaginable today. Furthermore, the increasing integration of AIs into everyday objects and environments could lead to a world where prompts are ubiquitous, operating unobtrusively in the background and providing seamless support without the need for explicit commands.

My forecast for prompt innovations

In terms of innovations in prompt design, there could also be self-learning prompts that automatically adapt and optimize over time based on our own reactions and preferences. Such adaptive prompts could then provide us with a personalized AI experience that is individually tailored to each of us by learning to anticipate questions and instructions in advance or even make creative suggestions that inspire us ourselves. Furthermore, advances in multimodal AI could lead to prompts going beyond text to include other forms of input, such as speech, gestures or even direct neural interfaces, exponentially expanding the range of possibilities for interacting with AI.

Fancy more?

Are you interested in the topic of prompts and want to get more out of your interaction with AI systems? Whether you use ChatGPT, SwissGPT, Custom GPTs or other AI tools, I am happy to share my best practices for dealing with prompts.

To be honest, I would like to point out that there is not always “the one recipe for success”. Rather, it is about gaining a general understanding of how to use AI tools and improving your own communication step by step.

I look forward to your inquiries.

*I used the AI tool SwissGPT from AlpineAI to formulate the individual paragraphs. However, the content is entirely my own.