Basics of Prompting

Week 1: Introduction to Prompt Engineering

Basics of Prompting | Become a Prompt Engineer

Basics of Prompting: Crafting Simple Prompts

Learn how to write simple and effective prompts for large language models to solve real-world problems.

The Power of Simple Prompts

Simple prompts are the foundation of effective communication with AI models. They are concise, clear instructions that guide the AI to produce targeted, useful outputs for real-world applications.

Well-crafted simple prompts can significantly enhance the quality and relevance of AI-generated responses, making them invaluable tools for solving practical problems across various domains.

Key Elements of Effective Simple Prompts

  • Clarity: Use precise, unambiguous language.
  • Specificity: Clearly define the desired output or task.
  • Context: Provide relevant background information when necessary.
  • Format: Specify the structure or format of the response if needed.
  • Constraints: Set limitations or requirements to focus the AI's response.

Real-World Applications of Simple Prompts

  1. "Generate a concise product description for a new smartphone, highlighting its three key features."
  2. "Create a step-by-step troubleshooting guide for a printer that won't connect to Wi-Fi."
  3. "Compose a professional email to reschedule a client meeting, providing two alternative dates and times."
  4. "Summarize the main points of the attached quarterly financial report in 5 bullet points."
  5. "Develop a short script for a 30-second radio advertisement promoting a local restaurant's grand opening."

Simple prompts can be applied to a wide range of tasks, from content creation and customer support to technical writing and data analysis. Their versatility makes them powerful tools in various professional settings.

Crafting Your First Prompt

Let's practice crafting a simple prompt for a common business scenario. Use the interface below to experiment with different prompts:


from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI()

def get_ai_response(prompt):
    try:
        response = client.chat.completions.create(
            model="gpt-4o-mini",
            messages=[
                {"role": "user", "content": prompt}
            ],
            temperature=0.7,
            max_tokens=200
        )
        return response.choices[0].message.content.strip()
    except Exception as e:
        return f"An error occurred: {str(e)}"

# Your prompt here
user_prompt = "Write a compelling job description for a 'Data Analyst' position, including key responsibilities and required skills. Limit the description to 150 words."

response = get_ai_response(user_prompt)
print("\nAI Response:")
print(response)
                    

Strategies for Effective Simple Prompts

  • Begin with action-oriented verbs: "Create," "Analyze," "Develop," "Optimize," etc.
  • Specify output parameters: word count, format, or number of items.
  • Provide context or background information when necessary.
  • Use industry-specific terminology for specialized tasks.
  • Include constraints or requirements to focus the AI's response.
  • Iterate and refine your prompt based on the initial outputs.

Key Takeaway:

Crafting effective simple prompts is an iterative process. Start with a clear objective, provide necessary context, and refine your prompt based on the AI's responses to achieve optimal results.

Practice Exercises

Now it's your turn to craft simple prompts for practical scenarios. Create prompts that are clear, specific, and designed to generate useful outputs.

Exercise 1: Customer Support Automation

Create a prompt that generates a response to a common customer inquiry about a software product.


from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI()

def get_ai_response(prompt):
    response = client.chat.completions.create(
        model="gpt-4o-mini",
        messages=[
            {"role": "user", "content": prompt}
        ],
        temperature=0.7,
        max_tokens=150
    )
    return response.choices[0].message.content.strip()

# Your prompt here
user_prompt = """Generate a helpful response to the following customer inquiry: "I forgot my password and can't log in to my account. What should I do?" Include step-by-step instructions and maintain a friendly tone. Limit the response to 100 words."""

response = get_ai_response(user_prompt)
print("\nAI Response:")
print(response)
                        

Exercise 2: Content Creation for Social Media

Craft a prompt that generates engaging social media content for a business.


from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI()

def get_ai_response(prompt):
    response = client.chat.completions.create(
        model="gpt-4o-mini",
        messages=[
            {"role": "user", "content": prompt}
        ],
        temperature=0.7,
        max_tokens=200
    )
    return response.choices[0].message.content.strip()

# Your prompt here
user_prompt = """Create 3 engaging tweet ideas (140 characters max each) for a coffee shop promoting its new summer cold brew flavors. Include relevant hashtags and a call-to-action in each tweet."""

response = get_ai_response(user_prompt)
print("\nAI Response:")
print(response)
                        

Exercise 3: Technical Writing

Create a prompt that generates a brief technical explanation for a complex concept.


from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI()

def get_ai_response(prompt):
    response = client.chat.completions.create(
        model="gpt-4o-mini",
        messages=[
            {"role": "user", "content": prompt}
        ],
        temperature=0.7,
        max_tokens=150
    )
    return response.choices[0].message.content.strip()

# Your prompt here
user_prompt = """Explain the concept of 'machine learning' in simple terms for a high school student. Use an everyday analogy to illustrate the concept. Keep the explanation under 100 words."""

response = get_ai_response(user_prompt)
print("\nAI Response:")
print(response)
                        

Conclusion

Mastering the art of crafting simple prompts is a fundamental skill in prompt engineering. By applying the strategies and principles discussed in this lesson, you can effectively harness the power of AI to assist with a wide range of tasks and problem-solving scenarios. Remember to iterate and refine your prompts based on the AI's responses to achieve optimal results.