ChatGPT Prompts for Business Users - Chapter 2
Prompting: Art or Science?
Master the balance between creativity and precision in AI communication
The Great Debate
Is prompting an art or a science? Well, that's a matter of perspective, as you could argue for both. Conversing with your AI assistant is both simple and not-so-simple.
Below are two outputs from ChatGPT based on prompts asking the AI to write a 3-sentence client update on project status, including one risk. Take a moment to compare the outputs and see the difference between basic and advanced prompting techniques.
Key Differences Between the Outputs:
- → Specificity: Output 2 provides exact timelines ("two weeks behind") vs vague descriptions
- → Context: Output 2 explains the cause ("extended legal reviews") rather than just stating the problem
- → Professional Language: Uses industry terminology that demonstrates expertise
- → Actionable Solutions: Provides specific mitigation strategies with clear stakeholder responsibilities
The Critical Difference
Output 2 is much more specific and has a distinct professional style, whereas Output 1 is vague and neutral. That's the difference between a basic prompt and a strong prompt.
So how do we avoid generic AI-sounding outputs? It is possible, and we'll explore the techniques that make this transformation achievable.