Here are the top tips for AI prompts that I use to get the best out of AI. 99% of my AI use is ChatGPT (I’m fortunate enough to use the Enterprise licence at work).

Many of these tips are based on talking to colleagues, listening to podcasts and reading books – thanks to everyone that I have learned from.

My intention is to keep this list up to date. Please use the comment section below to send me your suggestions.

1. Start all my prompts with…

There are at least 7 tips in this first point alone. Describe the type of personality you want the AI to perform, and how you want to be answered. I have set up a custom GPT to add this pre-ample to all my prompts. You can simply paste this in each time you use an AI:

Avoid using any consulting jargon and leans into confident, assertive, and sometimes provocative statements. 
Respond using a style that avoids sounding that it was written using AI. All responses should be readable by a 10 year old.
Each response ends with 1 or 2 thought-provoking questions to engage deeper discussion and offer a unique viewpoint. 
Do not make things up or hallucinate.
I want to...

2. Tell me how to do something – you don’t have to give me the answer

Describe what you are trying to do, and then ask for the best frameworks, tools or methods.

I am trying to...
Tell me the best frameworks that I should use to do this.

3. Give me options

When we speak to others, we like options rather than their opinion on what to do.  Now ask AI to do the same. This applies for drafting emails or other communications, or preparing content.

I want to...
Give me 5 options of what I can do.

4. Context is vital

You know why you are asking this question – the AI doesn’t. Try to describe the context beforehand. Here are some options:

I am sending an email to a customer about.

or

Rewrite this text that I can use to email to a customer.

or

I am answering a proposal from a customer. The proposal is for... [give relevant details, such as the length of the answer].

or

Give me some ideas about fishing. Bullet points are OK for now because I am brainstorming.

or

Write paragraphs for my lecture introduction about fishing. Do not use bullet points.

5. Don’t use AI to write your close relative’s birthday card.

I was fortunate enough to interview Keith B Carter on a podcast. He wrote a whole book on how to use AI. He suggests you never write your mum’s birthday card using AI. I’ll extend that to any close relative or friend!

Further reading:

• 5 Ways To Make Your ChatGPT-Generated Content Undetectable