AI Literacy: Empowering You to Understand AI

Distinguishing content from instruction
Distinguish between the instructions you are giving and the content you are asking for by using the following formatting cues:
NOTE!  \n = new line, and \n\n = two new lines

1. Use of Square Brackets [   ]
    Purpose: Encapsulate specific terms or phrases you want the model to focus on or treat as variables.
    Example: "Explain the significance of [keyword]."

2. New Lines or Paragraphs
    Purpose: Separate instructions from content or different parts of the instruction to enhance readability.

3. Triple Quotation Marks """ or ###
    Purpose: Differentiate between instructions and direct quotations or examples of text/code.
    Example: ### Translate this to French: Bonjour, comment ça va? ###

4. Bullet Points or Numbered Lists
    Purpose: Break down instructions or content elements into clearer, more digestible pieces.
    Example: "List the steps for:\n- Preparing tea\n- Serving it properly"

5. Using Prefaces Like 'Instruction:' and 'Content:'
    Purpose: Explicitly label different sections of your input to clarify which parts are instructions and which are content.
    Example: "Instruction: Summarize the content below.\nContent: [Detailed paragraph]"

6. Directive Phrases
    Purpose: Begin your input with phrases that explicitly state the action you want ChatGPT to take.
    Example: "Analyse the following data..."

7. Using Headers for Different Sections
    Purpose: Organize your prompt into clearly defined sections, especially useful for complex or multi-part instructions.
    Example: "Background Information:\n[Details]\n\nQuestion:\n[Specific question]"

My three - very often used - meta prompts

  • Acknowledge that you have understood my instructions. Do nothing else!
  • Ask me questions one a time so that you grasp the whole topic/situation before writing the mail/papar/etc​
  • Ask me clarifying questions that will help you to complete this task​
  • Bekräfta att du har förstått mina instruktioner. Gör inget annat!
  • ​Ställ frågor en i taget så att du förstår hela ämnet/situationen innan du skriver mejlet/papperet/etc.
  • Fråga mig klargörande frågor som hjälper dig att slutföra denna uppgift​

Effective prompt phrases

  1. Do nothing yet! Acknowledge your understanding of my question about [topic]?
  2. Can you break down the explanation into simpler terms, focusing on [specific aspect]?
  3. Provide an example that illustrates the concept of [concept].
  4. What are some common misconceptions about [topic], and why are they incorrect?
  5. Compare and contrast [concept A] and [concept B], highlighting key differences.
  6. If I wanted to learn more about [topic], what resources or steps would you recommend?
  7. Based on my goal of [goal], what strategy would you suggest I follow?
  8. Can you list the pros and cons of [decision or choice]?
  9. Explain the impact of [event or technology] on [industry or field].
  10. How has [topic] evolved over time, and what are the current trends?
  1. Gör ingenting än! Bekräfta att du förstår min fråga om [ämne]?
  2. Kan du förklara det på ett enklare sätt, med fokus på [specifik aspekt]?
  3. Ge ett exempel som illustrerar begreppet [begrepp].
  4. Vilka är några vanliga missuppfattningar om [ämne], och varför är de felaktiga?
  5. Jämför och kontrastera [begrepp A] och [begrepp B], och lyft fram de viktigaste skillnaderna.
  6. Om jag vill lära mig mer om [ämne], vilka resurser eller steg skulle du rekommendera?
  7. Baserat på mitt mål att [mål], vilken strategi skulle du föreslå att jag följer?
  8. Kan du lista för- och nackdelar med [beslut eller val]?
  9. Förklara effekten av [händelse eller teknik] på [industri eller område].
  10. Hur har [ämne] utvecklats över tid, och vilka är de nuvarande trenderna?

Categories of prompts: interacting & responding
1. Clarification Requests
  • Prompts: "Please clarify what you mean by [specific term/concept]."
    These prompts are designed to seek more information or clarification on a particular point, ensuring the AI fully understands the query.

2. Deep Dives
  • Prompts: "Explain [concept] in detail, including [specific aspects]." Use these when you want a thorough exploration or detailed explanation of a topic.

3. Creative Exploration
  • Prompts: "Imagine if [scenario]. How would that change [aspect]?" Ideal for stimulating creative thinking and exploring hypothetical scenarios.

4. Problem-Solving
  • Prompts: "Here's a problem I'm facing [describe problem]. What are some potential solutions?" These prompts help in brainstorming solutions or getting advice on specific issues.

5. Personalized Learning
  • Prompts: "Teach me about [topic] as if I'm a beginner." Tailored for educational purposes, focusing on learning new topics from scratch or deepening understanding.

6. Feedback and Improvement
  • Prompts: "Can you review this piece of text and suggest improvements?" Use these to solicit feedback on written work or ideas, with the aim of refinement.

7. Interactive Dialogue
  • Prompts: "Ask me questions to better understand my needs regarding [topic]." Encourages a two-way conversation, making the AI ask questions for clarity or depth.

8. Guidance and Advice
  • Prompts: "What are the best practices for [activity or skill]?" Suitable for seeking guidance or advice on specific activities, skills, or decisions.

9. Ideation and Brainstorming
  • Prompts: "List all the possible applications of [technology, concept]." When you're looking for new ideas or brainstorming potential uses for something.

​10. Factual and Historical Information
  • Prompts: "Provide a summary of [event, concept] including key figures and dates." When you need concise, factual information about historical events, concepts, or public figures.