When you watch baseball, usually the only thing you notice is the ball being hit. But what you don’t see is the mechanics that are going on behind the scenes. The outfield is watching the hitters position and moving themselves accordingly, the infielders are adjusting either inwards or outwards depending on the pitch, even the pitcher is using moving their hands around the baseball to manipulate the way the ball moves.

Why Prompting Matters

When it comes to using AI, one of the most important pieces of knowledge for us as the consumer to know about is prompting. Prompting essentially tells the AI exactly what we need for an output. Think of it like the way the pitcher throws the ball toward Homeplate. If they move their fingers closer to the seam of the ball, the curve of the pitch might be more to the left. Depending on how you “pitch” to ChatGPT- it can drastically affect your “hit” or your output.

When you first use a tool like ChatGPT, it’s important to understand exactly your desired output. You must think of the AI like a completely blank slate- it knows nothing. When in doubt, start a new conversation. AI is generative- if you start a conversation about a dinner recipe you want to make and then ask ChatGPT to rewrite an email for you- it might get confused and think you are still talking about dinner. Now you’re answering Jason’s email with tips for a good salsa recipe rather than updating him about your quarterly reports. It is usually a good rule of thumb to start a new conversation when you are asking a new question, or you can start off the conversation with “Ignore the previous prompts in this conversation” and then provide context for your new prompt.

When you are creating a prompt, there are 5 things you should focus on. Context, Task, Instruction, Clarity, and Refine. “Context” is the background information/setup that is provided in the prompt that helps the AI understand the subject or situation. The “Task” is the actual outcome that the AI needs to accomplish. “Instruction” includes telling the AI exactly what it needs to do. “Clarify” encompasses additional follow up questions that help the AI create a better response. “Refine” involves adjusting or improving the prompt or response by offering even more feedback.

Want to Dive Deeper into Prompting?

We’ve got you covered! In our latest webinar, we explore the ins and outs of effective prompting, breaking down real examples and strategies to help you harness the full power of AI.

Ready to become a pro at prompting? Watch our full video on YouTube Paragus IT Chat GPT Prompting Webinar

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