Skip to Main Content

How To Use GenAI/ChatGPT Responsibly: Prompt Engineering

A guide to Generative AI, and the best ways to use it as a student.

Because AI output is still only as good as the prompts they are given, constructing a good prompt makes a huge difference to the quality of the content that a Generative AI tool will produce. In short, if you want quality content, you must use quality prompts.

Thus, prompt engineering, refers to the technique of refining a prompt over time in order to improve AI's output. This process is especially useful in instances where basic prompts don't work as intended.

How to

 

Using ChatGPT is not like typing a question into Google. While there are many ways to structure a prompt, these are three most important things to include:

  • Context 
    • Set the scene. Give the AI some context, or a role to play, e.g. "Act as an expert copywriter..."
    • Use exact keywords.
    • Specify the intended audience.
  • Task
    • Give very detailed instructions.
    • Break down the steps involved, if necessary.
  • Output
    • Specify the desired format, style and tone.
    • Include any inclusions or exclusions.
    • Formatting options can include a list, table, paragraphs or even emojis, HTML or CSS!

Keep conversing and asking for changes. You can keep asking the AI tool to revise the answer until you get what you need. For example, try adding more instructions to get your prompt obtain more, or provide more context like, “I’m not an expert and I need this explained to me in simpler terms.”

Examples

 

Context

You are a health professional with ten years’ experience in the fitness, health, and wellbeing industry. You are working on a project that is promoting healthy lunches in schools. The goal is to raise awareness on the benefits of eating well and the positive impacts this has on children’s learning in the classroom. The target audience includes parents of young children, school teachers and the general public who may also be interested.

Task

The proposal should mention the benefits of healthy and nutritious eating for children, such as improved wellbeing, supporting child development and learning, improved levels of concentration, behaviour and school achievement, as well as boosting overall health. It should include five bullet points for each area: campaign objectives, target audience, key messages, partnerships, content ideas, recipe ideas and timeline.

Output

Please structure it in a format that is easy to present to stakeholders, such as a PowerPoint presentation. The tone of the proposal should be professional, persuasive, and visually appealing. It should also include suggestions for imagery and design elements that align with the theme of promoting healthy lunches in schools.

Quick Tips!

  • Quality prompts = quality output.
  • If you're not getting the result you want, keep adjusting your prompt and try again

Test Your Knowledge