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Artificial Intelligence

This guide provides information on generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and best practices for using them.

Prompts in AI

Prompts are the instructions used to ask a large language model to perform a task and create an output. The more specific instructions you can give the generative AI, the better output you're going to get. Prompting generative AI each step of the way guides it to ensure consistency and keeps the AI on topic. 

Whether you're asking a question or providing additional context, you are prompting the language model to perform a task for you. A prompt consists of a few words, a single sentence or paragraphs. Successful prompt crafting influences the quality and relevance of the generated output and the user's satisfaction in the answer. Providing as much instruction and context as you can to a large language model, like ChatGPT, will bring back a more helpful output to the task you've asked. 

Some common tasks we ask large language models to perform for us are:

  • text generation
  • image generation
  • questions & answer
  • problem-solving
  • writing code
  • data analyzation
  • text summarization & synthesizing 
  • writing posts, essays, & articles
  • language translation

Creating Successful Prompts

When writing a prompt for a generative AI tool, the following practices will help you to get a successful output.

  • Carefully consider the phrasing of your prompt. Keep prompts concise and on topic, and maintain a logical flow and order of ideas. Do not add unnecessary details.
    • Note: This does not mean that your prompt cannot be several sentences (or even a paragraph) long. However, everything you include in your prompt should something that the generative AI tool needs to know in order to give you an appropriate answer.
    • Tip: If your topic or question is broad in scope, try breaking it down into smaller questions, and ask the generative AI tool each question individually, step by step. 
  • Include explicit instructions for the desired behaviour.
    • For example, ask the generative AI tool to think step by step, to rephrase an idea, to summarize an idea, or to synthesize two or more ideas.
  • Give the generative AI tool specific instructions on what the format, tone, or scope of the output should be. Below are three examples:
    • "Write a 250 word summary, in an academic tone, of the symptoms and treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.”
    • "Take the key points from the previous answer and write a response in a professional tone." 
    • "Synthesize this article and break the arguments down to a grade 12 level."
  • Try a few different prompts. Reword the phrasing of your prompt, and attempt different ways of framing an issue, to see new answers from the generative AI tool.
    • Tip: Create "New Chats" for each unrelated question and topic, so that the generative AI tool can start fresh. You can also ask the generative AI tool to ignore the previous information you have given it. 
  • Every time you get an output from the generative AI tool, critically evaluate it for accuracy, relevance, bias, and missing information.

The information above is adapted from the following article:

Lo, Leo S. "The CLEAR Path: A Framework for Enhancing Information Literacy Through Prompt Engineering." The Journal of Academic Librarianship, vol. 49, no. 4, July 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2023.102720.

Phrasing Your Prompt for GPT-Based AI

If you want the language model to perform a specific task for you, try using these words in your prompt:

  • Write/explain/summarize/compose
  • Provide/analyze/compare and contrast
  • Rephrase/rewrite/reword
  • Create
  • Expand on the following:

If you want the language model to answer a specific question for you, trying using these words in your prompt:

  • Who/what/when/where/why/whose/which
  • How did...
  • How to...

You may need to direct the language model to write in a specific context. For example, you may want it to write in a certain tone, or for a particular type of setting. Below are some examples of wording that you might use:

  • Write in an academic tone, using no more than 500 words. 
  • Explain how to do [TOPIC] in a professional setting.