Michael Troyer Listen to article summary
What is prompt engineering?
Prompt engineering is the process of formulating a prompt for an AI system, such as ChatGPT, to produce an output that matches your expectations. It involves carefully crafting the input to ensure the desired response.
Why should I care?
Understanding prompt engineering is crucial for effectively interacting with AI models like ChatGPT, Bart, and Bing Chat. These chatbots can greatly enhance productivity and convenience in tasks like drafting emails, summarizing meeting notes, and complex problem-solving.
How do I do it?
There are several techniques for prompt engineering. Employing personas allows the AI system to imitate different tones and voices, catering the output to specific audiences. Chain-of-thought prompting encourages the model to provide step-by-step solutions. Providing examples or templates can also help achieve the desired output. Additionally, clear and explicit instructions with a specified word count and format are essential.
What should I avoid?
Avoid using vague language and assumptions. AI models cannot infer your preferences or context without specific information. It’s important to provide clear instructions and not leave any important details ambiguous.
Can prompt engineering prevent inaccuracies?
No, AI models can still produce false information, even if instructed otherwise. Prompt engineering can help address falsehoods after they appear by pointing out errors and asking the model to rewrite based on feedback. It’s also helpful to verify the facts presented by the model individually.
Could prompt engineering become a career?
While prompt engineering positions exist, their longevity is uncertain. Developers may prefer specialized computer scientists over self-styled prompt engineers. However, experience in using AI models will likely become a requirement for many office-based jobs.
Will prompt engineering become obsolete?
Prompt engineering techniques may evolve with updated AI models, but there will likely be core concepts and patterns that remain valuable. The goal is for AI models to become more conversational and intuitive, potentially making prompt engineering less necessary in the future.
Overall, mastering prompt engineering is essential for maximizing the benefits of AI models like ChatGPT and staying ahead in the ever-evolving workplace. Here’s How To Write Great ChatGPT Prompts
