Types of Prompts
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Informational Prompts
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Let's start with informational prompts. These are designed to request specific facts or explanations from the AI. Can anyone give me an example of what an informational prompt might look like?
What are the causes of climate change?
Exactly! Notice how it's a direct question aimed at fetching specific knowledge? That's the essence of an informational prompt.
So itβs about asking clear questions?
Yes, clarity is key! Remember the acronym CLEAR: Clear, Logical, Engaging, Accurate, Relevant. This helps in structuring good informational prompts.
What happens if the prompt is vague?
Great question! A vague prompt can lead to irrelevant or unclear responses. Itβs important to refine our prompting skills.
In summary, informational prompts seek specific information and should be clear to guide appropriate responses.
Instructional Prompts
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Now letβs discuss instructional prompts. These tell the AI exactly what task to perform. Can someone give me an example?
Summarize this article in three bullet points.
Excellent! Instructional prompts are all about giving the AI a clear directive. Why do you think it's important to have specific instructions?
It helps the AI understand what we want.
Right! When formulating prompts, think about the outcome you desire. Use the acronym TASK: Think, Ask, Specify, Know. This will help ensure your instructions are effective.
What if there are multiple tasks?
Good point! Multi-part prompts can introduce complexity that should be managed by being clear about each task. In summary, instructional prompts are key to guiding tasks effectively.
Role-Based and Contextual Prompts
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Let's talk about role-based prompts. Why do we assign roles to the AI?
To set a certain tone or expertise?
Exactly! For instance, saying βAct as a lawyerβ places the AI in a specific mindset. It frames the expectations of the output. Who can give me a contextual prompt example?
Based on this job description, write a cover letter?
Perfect! Contextual prompts enhance the AIβs understanding by providing background. Think about it like a manuscript with necessary details that lead to pertinent output. Remember the acronym RACE: Role, Audience, Context, Expectation for effective prompts.
So the context helps tailor the response?
Exactly! The clearer the context, the better the output. Letβs wrap up this session by summarizing that role-based and contextual prompts help shape the AI's responses according to our needs.
Few-Shot Prompts
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Lastly, letβs explore few-shot prompts. Who remembers what this type of prompt involves?
It gives the AI examples to guide its responses.
That's right! Few-shot prompts can set expectations based on provided examples. Can anyone give me a practical example?
Translate 'Hola' to English and then include another example?
Very well illustrated! Remember that giving examples helps establish patterns. Use the acronym BASE: Build, Analyze, Specify, Expect to shape effective few-shot prompts.
What if I have too many examples?
Good question! Too many examples can confuse the model. It's essential to choose the most relevant few to set the right context. Letβs conclude by noting that few-shot prompts use examples to create clearer expectations.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
In this section, various types of promptsβincluding informational, instructional, role-based, contextual, and few-shot promptsβare explained. Each type is designed to achieve specific outcomes when interacting with an AI model, illustrating how the format and intent of a prompt can significantly shape the generated response.
Detailed
Types of Prompts
This section presents five distinct types of prompts, each influencing an AI model's tone, structure, and content differently:
- Informational Prompt: Used to request facts or explanations. For example, "What are the main causes of climate change?" Here, the prompt is open-ended, allowing the model to provide extensive information.
- Instructional Prompt: Directs the AI to perform a specific task, such as summarizing a text. For instance, "Summarize this article in 3 bullet points" gives clear instructions on what output is expected.
- Role-Based Prompt: Assigns a specific role to the AI, helping it adopt a certain voice or expertise. An example is, "Act as a lawyer explaining rental laws to a tenant," which sets clear expectations for the response's style and content.
- Contextual Prompt: Provides additional background or context to enhance the quality of the AI's output. An example prompt could be, "Based on the following job description, write a cover letter... [insert job posting]."
- Few-Shot Prompt: Offers examples to guide the AI in generating responses. For instance, continuing from Q: Translate βHolaβ to English, A: Hello; Q: Translate βAdiΓ³sβ to English, A: Goodbye, helps set a pattern for translation tasks.
Each type serves distinct purposes and optimal usage scenarios, showcasing the versatility and potential of prompt engineering.
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Informational Prompt
Chapter 1 of 5
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Chapter Content
- Informational Prompt
Requesting facts or explanations.
βWhat are the main causes of climate change?β
Detailed Explanation
An informational prompt is designed to elicit specific facts or explanations from the AI. It is straightforward in its intent, asking a clear question that requires the AI to provide factual information. For example, by asking about the causes of climate change, the prompt guides the AI to focus on educational content.
Examples & Analogies
Think of this type of prompt like a student raising their hand in class to ask the teacher a question about a topic they don't understand. Just like the student seeks clear information, the informational prompt aims to obtain specific knowledge from the AI.
Instructional Prompt
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Chapter Content
- Instructional Prompt
Tells the AI to perform a specific task.
βSummarize this article in 3 bullet points.β
Detailed Explanation
An instructional prompt gives the AI a directive or task to perform. It specifies what action the AI should take, which helps in obtaining a result that is both clear and structured. In this case, the instruction to summarize an article in three bullet points limits the response and focuses on conciseness.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a chef receiving a recipe. The recipe gives precise instructions for each step, which guides the chef to prepare a dish successfully. Similarly, an instructional prompt directs the AI's actions to achieve a specific outcome.
Role-Based Prompt
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Chapter Content
- Role-Based Prompt
Assigns a role to shape behavior or style.
βAct as a lawyer explaining rental laws to a tenant.β
Detailed Explanation
A role-based prompt assigns a specific persona to the AI that influences how it responds. By requesting the AI to act as a lawyer, the prompt changes the context and tone of the information provided. It prompts the AI to adopt the perspective, vocabulary, and style appropriate for a legal professional.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a child playing dress-up. When they wear a doctorβs coat and stethoscope, they start to act like a doctor. Similarly, a role-based prompt changes the AI's 'costume' and behavior based on the role it is asked to play.
Contextual Prompt
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Chapter Content
- Contextual Prompt
Includes background details or context.
βBased on the following job description, write a cover letter... [insert job posting]β
Detailed Explanation
A contextual prompt provides the AI with background information that is crucial for generating a relevant output. By including details such as a job description, the prompt ensures that the AIβs response is tailored and suitable for the specific situation being addressed.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a student preparing for a job interview. They would review the job description and company information beforehand, tailoring their responses based on that context. A contextual prompt does something similar, ensuring the AI has the necessary background to give a focused answer.
Few-Shot Prompt
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Chapter Content
- Few-Shot Prompt
Provides examples to set expectations.
Q: Translate βHolaβ to English.
A: Hello.
Q: Translate βAdiΓ³sβ to English.
A: Goodbye.
Detailed Explanation
A few-shot prompt introduces examples to set the expectations for the AIβs response. By presenting a pattern of input and expected output, the AI can infer what is required for subsequent interactions. This method can significantly enhance the clarity and accuracy of the AI's responses.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a teacher showing students how to solve a math problem by solving a couple of examples first. The students learn the method and can apply it to new problems. In a similar way, a few-shot prompt teaches the AI how to behave based on the examples given.
Key Concepts
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Informational Prompt: Requests specific facts or explanations.
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Instructional Prompt: Tells the AI what to do or perform a task.
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Role-Based Prompt: Assigns a role to the AI, shaping its voice.
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Contextual Prompt: Provides background to guide the AI's outputs.
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Few-Shot Prompt: Uses examples to set expectations for responses.
Examples & Applications
What are the main causes of climate change? (Informational Prompt)
Summarize this article in 3 bullet points. (Instructional Prompt)
Act as a lawyer explaining rental laws to a tenant. (Role-Based Prompt)
Based on the following job description, write a cover letter... (Contextual Prompt)
Q: Translate 'Hola' to English. A: Hello. (Few-Shot Prompt)
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
For prompts that share instructions clear, the AI will bring answers near.
Stories
Imagine a chef giving a recipe, guiding each step so the dish comes out just right.
Memory Tools
Remember the 'RICE' for prompts: Role, Instruction, Context, Examples.
Acronyms
Use βPRAISEβ for effective prompting
Precise
Relevant
Action-oriented
Instructional
Specific
Engaging.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Informational Prompt
A prompt designed to request specific facts or explanations from an AI.
- Instructional Prompt
A directive prompt that tells the AI what specific task to perform.
- RoleBased Prompt
A prompt that assigns a specific role to the AI, framing its responses.
- Contextual Prompt
A prompt that provides background details to enhance the AI's output.
- FewShot Prompt
A prompt that provides examples to guide the AI's responses.
Reference links
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