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The Lightwave 

Practical Insights for Skeptics & Users Alike…in (Roughly) Two Minutes or Less

"The writer is an explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (a man who, I am quite certain, would hate AI….)

This week is Prompt Week! Kind of like Shark Week.

Except with, well, you know…less sharks

To put it simply: Prompting is the art and science of communicating with AI systems to get the results you want. It's like learning a new language—the language of AI interaction. OK, it’s not at all like learning a new language. It’s much, much easier than learning a new language. It’s more like…learning how to use language to get squeeze the best juice from the pulp of all this AI.

What is a Prompt?

A prompt is simply the input you give to an AI system.

It can be a question, a statement, a set of instructions—or even a piece of code.

The AI then processes this input and generates a response based on its training and the information provided in your prompt.

The better the prompt, the better (theoretically) the output:

Precision: Well-crafted prompts lead to more accurate and relevant responses.

Efficiency: Good prompts can save time by getting the desired output faster.

Creativity: Prompts can guide AI to generate novel ideas or solutions.

Customization: Prompts allow you to tailor AI outputs to your specific needs.

Basic Principles of Effective Prompting

This week, we’ll be discussing some techniques and frameworks a bit more in depth, but for now here’s the basic foundation of effective prompting:

• Be Specific & Avoid Ambiguity: The more precise your prompt, the better the AI can understand and respond to your request.

  —> Example: Instead of: "Tell me about dogs." Try: "Describe the characteristics and care requirements of Golden Retrievers as family pets."

• Provide Context: Give the AI relevant background information to frame your request.

  —> Example: "I'm planning a summer vacation for a family of four, including two children ages 8 and 12. Suggest five family-friendly destinations in Europe that offer a mix of cultural experiences and outdoor activities."

• Use Examples: Showing the AI an example of what you're looking for can help guide its response.

  —> Example: "Write a short poem about autumn in the style of Robert Frost’s poem Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.”

• Break Complex Tasks into Steps: For complicated requests, guide the AI through the process step-by-step.

  —> Example: " Help me write a simple recipe for chocolate chip cookies. First, list the ingredients. Then, provide the steps in numbered order."

• Experiment and Iterate: Don't be afraid to refine your prompt if you don't get the desired result on the first try. Adjust your wording, add more details, or try a different approach.

Start Simple…Just Start

Part of the fun of Generative AI is discovering new capabilities and use cases through prompting. This means you need to go in and start experimenting. Don’t overthink it! Begin with straightforward requests and gradually increase complexity. Some examples:

• "Suggest 5 cost-effective marketing strategies for a local [type of business]."

• "Write a compelling 30-second elevator pitch for my [product/service]."

• "List common customer objections for [product/service] and how to address them."

• "Create a weekly social media content plan for a [type of business]."

• "Outline the steps to improve my business's online presence."

From here, you can begin tugging at the thread of more complex, interesting problems.

Speaking of which: Tomorrow we’ll talk about iterative prompting

Have a great weekend.

For more, visit www.NorthLightAI.com