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BIOETHICS 676: Ethical Technology Practicum: Writing AI Prompts

Adjustments to your prompt

When it comes to creating generative AI prompts, there are several important concepts to keep in mind. These include tone, length, temperature, voice, and avoidance of using confusing words that can have multiple meanings. In order to produce high-quality AI prompts you need to carefully consider each of these elements.

Tone

The tone of a prompt can greatly impact how it is received by users. Choose a tone that is appropriate for the intended audience and that effectively conveys the message you are trying to communicate.

Length

The length of a prompt can impact how easy it is to understand and how engaging it is for users. It is important to find a balance between brevity and detail that works well for the specific context.

Temperature

This refers to the degree of randomness or creativity in the output of a generative AI model. Adjusting the temperature can help ensure that the output is both interesting and relevant.

Voice

The voice you choose can greatly impact how users perceive the output. It is important to choose a voice that is appropriate for the intended audience and that effectively conveys the message you are trying to communicate.

Avoid confusing words

Avoid words that are confusing or that can have multiple meanings. This can help ensure that the output is clear and easy to understand. If the output does not meet expectations request alternative or varied output to ensure that it is of the highest quality.

Prompt Basics

Be Specific

Tips Details
Instruct the AI Clearly instruct the AI to ask follow-up questions to help improve the output or clarify any confusion. You can even ask the AI if it understands what you're asking and provide more examples if needed.
Specific instructions for web/Canvas development Provide specific instructions on how to structure the results in a table, markdown, HTML, or other format. The more detailed the instructions, the better the results are likely to be.
If output is ambiguous or unclear Provide additional details to help clarify the intended meaning.
Give multiple examples Give multiple examples of what you're looking for. This will help the AI better understand what you want and produce more accurate results.
Reduce hallucinations To reduce the likelihood of hallucinations (outputs that sound plausible but are incorrect or unrelated), provide a clear role for the AI to play. For example, you could say "You are an expert in men's fashion design." Other expert role examples include Creative Writer, Public Speaking Coach, Marketing Strategist and Planner, UX/UI Designer, SEO Specialist, Programming Mentor, and Web Development Guru.

Demo Prompts for Co-Pilot for Class Today

  1. You are a PhD student who is working on an interdisciplinary team to create a literature review on alternative sustainable rubber alternatives to present to a client sponsor. You've been asked to find and summarize five scholarly articles as part of the assignment. Can you suggest five excellent articles and give three sentence summaries of each article?
  2. Summarize this document with a brief overview of the main points to discuss with my team during the tomorrow's Sales meeting. Please keep the summary to 5 key points. Silica Aerogel-Rubber Composite: A Sustainable Alternative for Buildings’ Thermal Insulation, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9606976/
  3. I'd like to present this information in a table that shows the economic viability, market potential, and environmental benefits of each alternative source. I would like the information to be in language that is complex enough to show an understanding of the alternatives.