Prompt
The input text or instructions given to an AI model to elicit a response. Quality prompts dramatically improve output quality.
In-Depth Explanation
A prompt is the input provided to an AI model that instructs it what to do and provides context for generating a response. The art and science of crafting effective prompts is crucial for getting good results from AI systems.
Prompt components:
- System prompt: Sets the AI's persona, rules, and context
- User prompt: The specific request or query
- Context: Relevant information for the task
- Examples: Demonstrations of desired behavior (few-shot)
- Format instructions: How the output should be structured
Effective prompt elements:
- Clarity: Unambiguous instructions
- Context: Relevant background information
- Constraints: Boundaries and requirements
- Examples: Demonstrations when helpful
- Format: Desired output structure
Prompt patterns:
- Role-playing: "You are a helpful assistant that..."
- Step-by-step: "Think through this step by step..."
- Template: "Format your response as: [structure]"
- Constraint: "In 3 sentences or fewer..."
- Example-based: "Here are examples: [...] Now do: [...]"
Business Context
Effective prompting is the most accessible way to improve AI results. Good prompts can replace expensive fine-tuning.
How Clever Ops Uses This
Prompt engineering is a core skill at Clever Ops. We develop and refine prompts that deliver consistent, high-quality results for Australian business applications.
Example Use Case
"A detailed prompt with context, format requirements, and examples gets significantly better results than a simple one-line request."