Prompts are the instructions or inputs given by a user to guide GenAI in creating content. This generated content, also called an “output,” can come in the form of text, images, music, or any other form of digital media.
Prompts define the task for the GenAI and influence the outputs in terms of style, content, and detail. The more specific the instructions given to the tool, the better the outcome. Prompting GenAI at each step keeps the AI tool on topic and more likely to provide the most helpful output.
Prompt engineering is the systematic process of designing clear, contextually relevant, and actionable prompts or inputs for GenAI models. These prompts serve as cues or instructions that guide the behaviour of GenAI models, influencing the generation of outputs or responses. Formulating clear and effective prompts is crucial to obtaining the best possible output.
Lo (2023) defined prompt engineering as "the process of constructing queries or inputs (i.e. prompts) for AI language models so as to elicit the most precise, coherent, and pertinent responses. In essence, it is the art of fine-tuning the questions or commands provided to AI models in order to optimize their performance and guarantee that they produce the desired results."
You will communicate with AI tools using prompts, this is an instruction to the model to produce the response based on the information you give. Writing effective prompts involves understanding both the GenAI model's capabilities and limitations and using this knowledge to construct prompts that guide it toward producing the most relevant and high-quality results.
When constructing a prompt, it might be helpful to remember this age-old adage "garbage in, garbage out"; in other words, the quality of the output is dependent on the quality of the input. Vague or poorly constructed prompts will lead to unhelpful, irrelevant, or disappointing outputs.
A good prompt should be CLEAR (Lo, 2023):
| C - Concise | emphasizes the importance of conciseness, brevity, and clarity in crafting prompts. |
| L - Logical | focuses on the logical flow and order of ideas within the prompt |
| E - Explicit | underscores the importance for clear output specifications and precise instructions on the desired response |
| A - Adaptive | highlights the importance of adaptability, flexibility, and customization in creating and refining prompts |
| R - Reflective | underlines the significance of continuous improvement and evaluation to enhance prompt engineering techniques |
Prompts Basics for Students |
Prompts Basics for Instructors |