Prompt Engineering 101

The science behind prompt engineering.

Prompt Engineering 101

TL;DR

  • Avoid ending prompts with tag questions like 'right?'; use neutral phrasing or 'maybe?' instead.
  • The 'step-by-step' approach is less effective than direct questioning, especially when combined with a specified role.
  • AI can hallucinate, and even expert reviewers miss incorrect citations, so always verify AI-generated information.
  • AI models reliably follow a maximum of three rules; more rules significantly decrease accuracy.
  • Clearly stating goals is more effective for modern AI models than providing examples.
  • A prompt template incorporating these principles is recommended for consistent results.