One of the more common complaints I hear from my colleagues who have experimented with generative AI is the perceived generic or vague nature of the responses they get. And this frustration often stems from a misunderstanding of how AI works with the prompts they provide. Writing precise AI prompts is a foundational skill that can transform your interactions with AI from frustrating and time-consuming to efficient and productive.

Vague AI prompts lead to vague outputs

Think of prompting an AI like briefing a new research assistant. The more context and clarity you provide upfront, the more likely you are to get back what you actually need. Vague requests lead to vague results, requiring multiple rounds of clarification that eat into your already limited time.

It’s a bit like to asking a librarian for a book on ‘history’ without specifying a period, region, or aspect of interest. Which is why the result is often a broad, surface-level response that fails to satisfy expectations of more nuanced or specific inquiries. And this is particularly acute in academic settings, where the need for precision and depth is necessary for most contexts. Academics used to precise language may find the AI’s responses lacking if their prompts lack complexity and specificity.

Writing precise AI prompts

The solution is what’s known as ‘prompt engineering’ – the practice of crafting prompts to elicit more accurate, detailed, and relevant responses from AI. By providing clear, concise, and context-rich inputs, the AI understands more about the specific type of information required.

1. Be specific. The more detailed your prompt, the more targeted the AI’s response. Describe the problem you want to address, and the audience you have in mind.
2. Provide context. Contextualising your question helps the AI understand the scope and perspective of your inquiry.
3. Clarify your desired outcome. If you’re looking for a particular format or style, mention it. Specify the tone you want the AI to use.
4. Use iterative queries. Probe the AI with follow up questions and instructions. Think of this as a dynamic conversation, not a one-off query.

Learning how to write precise AI prompts is a crucial skill for anyone looking to harness the full potential of generative AI effectively. Which is why spending time crafting clear, contextual, and iterative prompts, help AI provide insightful, tailored responses. As AI capabilities continue to evolve, developing prompting expertise will become increasingly vital for academics, professionals, and casual users alike.

Want to develop your AI prompting skills further? The Generative AI for Academics course helps you create structured prompts that enhance your research, writing, and teaching workflow. Learn more about working effectively with AI while maintaining your academic rigour.