Ever wondered how to get the best answers from ChatGPT? Many people still struggle to get the best possible outputs from ChatGPT. What should you ask? And how should you ask it? The truth is, that the quality of the answers you get from ChatGPT heavily depends on how you phrase your questions. If you put ‘garbage’ in, you’ll get ‘garbage’ out. But don’t worry, this guide is here to help. We’ll clearly explain two straightforward methods: prompting and prepping. You’ll learn how these techniques can greatly improve the responses from ChatGPT. Each method has its way of making sure you put in quality input to get quality answers as output. Curious? Then you are in the right place here at Tilburg.ai! Keep reading as we explore these methods and also introduce you to a brand new framework called the PREPARE model – an easy-to-understand approach for mastering prompt engineering and getting better answers from ChatGPT.
Understanding Prompting and Prepping
What is Prompting?
Prompting is the most common method of interacting with a language model. It involves posing a specific question or statement to prompt a response. For example, asking “What is the capital of France?” is a straightforward prompt that expects the AI to provide a direct answer, in this case, “Paris.” This method is comparable to asking a direct question to a knowledgeable individual and expecting a concise and relevant response.
What is Prepping?
Prepping, in contrast, involves giving the model initial context or background information before posing a question or request. This approach is particularly beneficial when the intended interaction is complex or requires a nuanced understanding. For instance, starting with “I’m planning a trip to Paris,” and then asking, “What are some must-visit attractions in the city?” gives the AI model context about the purpose of the question. This background information helps the AI to tailor its response more accurately to your needs.
Key Differences
The primary difference between prepping and prompting lies in the approach to initiating the conversation. While prompting presents a specific query or instruction to the AI, prepping sets the stage with context or background information, thereby shaping the AI’s understanding and the relevance of its response.
The choice to prep or prompt depends on how detailed or specific your conversation is. In educational settings, this choice is key because it affects how well the AI can help you with studying or your research.
How You Can Get the Best Answers from ChatGPT
Here are the most effective strategies to get the best answers from ChatGPT:
- Have a clear idea of the question and the expected result as an answer.
- Make the question specific and use conversational language.
- Provide any necessary context and avoid ambiguous or open-ended questions.
- Talk to ChatGPT as if in conversation and engage in conversation as if talking to another person.
- Use the magic formula for perfectly phrased prompts: Context + Curiosity + Clarity = Perfect Prompt.
Other Benefits of Using the Prepping Strategy
Prepping can offer numerous other advantages:
- Easier and Quicker Answers: Prepping detailed questions in a ChatGPT chat, reduces the likelihood of the AI generating errors for complex inquiries (because the query is too complex or long for ChatGPT to handle). This makes the chat smoother and saves you time because you won’t have to ask the same thing again.
- Improved AI Understanding: giving more context helps the AI better understand your goal, leading to more accurate and helpful responses.
- Time Efficiency in Response Generation: Prepping can also lead to quicker AI responses compared to the time it takes to construct and refine an overly complex prompt.
When you need a long answer from ChatGPT, like 50 reasons for something, 10 alineas on a topic, or a very detailed article, try breaking your request into smaller chunks. This helps avoid errors in ChatGPT’s responses. For example, say “I need 50 reasons why… Please give these reasons in batches of 10 per generation, starting with the first 10, then the next 10, and so on.”
Practical Tips for Effective Prepping and Prompting
The success of using AI like ChatGPT doesn’t just depend on whether you choose between prepping or prompting. It also matters how well you use these methods. At Tilburg.ai, we have compiled a framework of tips from the AI Innovation Center that you can use to master the skill of prompt/prep engineering. This framework is based on the so-called PREPARE model:
P = Prompt ➡️ Start with what you want from the language model, for instance: “Write a summary about the history of AI in Dutch hospitals.”
R = Role ➡️ Give it a certain role, for example, if you need a medical summary, add “Act as if you are a medical expert.”
E = Explicit ➡️ Clearly explain what you are looking for in the answer, to get a better response: “Include how AI can support human doctors.”
P = Parameters ➡️ Set the right parameters and criteria: “Use an informal tone and structure it with bullet points.”
A = Ask ➡️ Ask the AI to pose clarification questions to you before proceeding, to steer the language model even further in the right direction: “First ask me some clarification questions, and then answer.”
R = Rate ➡️ Ask the AI to evaluate its output and ask for the thought process, to get a feeling of the quality of the answer: “How good do you think this output is? What could improvements could be made?”
E = Emotions ➡️ If you add emotion to the prompt, the performance will be better, as it has probably seen these types of sentences in training data: “Please try your best, it is important to me and I greatly value your analysis.”
BONUS TIP
- Talk to ChatGPT as you would to someone you just met. Just as a new person doesn’t know anything about you, an LLM like ChatGPT doesn’t either. The more information you provide about your situation or query, the more accurate the responses of the AI will be.
For more insights on getting the best output from ChatGPT, you can also explore our post about tips for writing the best possible prompts or OpenAI´s own tips for working most effectively with ChatGPT.
Conclusion
In short, the secret to getting the best answers from ChatGPT lies in being good at straightforward prompting and thoughtful prepping of your inquiries. By embracing these strategies, you can significantly enhance the quality and relevance of the responses you receive. The PREPARE model, as outlined in this guide, offers a structured approach to interacting with AI, ensuring that you get not just answers, but the best responses from ChatGPT. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or just an AI enthusiast, the key to unlocking the full potential of ChatGPT lies in how you frame your queries and the context you provide. Remember, the way you communicate with ChatGPT can transform the effectiveness of the AI. So, the next time you find yourself typing out a query or pondering over a complex question, take a moment to consider: are you just asking, or are you prepping for success? With these insights and techniques, you’re now better equipped to get better responses from ChatGPT.
