ChatGPT: A well-formulated prompt can significantly improve the quality and relevance of responses. Here are some aspects that make a prompt effective:

1. Clarity and precision: Clear and precise wording helps to understand exactly what is being asked. The more specific the prompt, the more targeted the response can be.
2. context: Provide sufficient background information if the question is based on specific or complex situations. This makes it possible to tailor the answer better to the given context.
3. purposefulness: Definition of the desired outcome or the type of information required. For example, whether a brief response or a detailed explanation is expected.
4. question formulationOpen-ended questions allow for more detailed answers, while closed-ended questions (those that can be answered with yes or no) are less detailed.
5. Avoiding ambiguityAvoid vague terms or ambiguities that could lead to confusion or misunderstandings.
6. relevance: Ask questions that are directly relevant to the topic in order to avoid side issues or irrelevancies.
7. Use of keywords: Inclusion of relevant keywords or technical terms that help to clearly define the scope of the question.

These points help to make the interaction more efficient and effective by ensuring that the answers are as relevant and useful as possible.

Question: Do you have any examples of good and bad prompts?

ChatGPT: Of course! Here are examples of good and bad prompts that illustrate how the wording of a question can influence the quality of the answer:

Good prompts

• Specific and clear:
  „Could you explain how photovoltaics work and what the main components of a typical solar panel are?“

This prompt is specific, clear and specifies the desired level of detail. It asks for an explanation of a specific topic and lists the relevant aspects to be covered.

• Contextual and detailed:
  „I'm writing an article about the cultural significance of coffee in different countries. Could you provide information about the traditions of coffee preparation and consumption in Italy and Ethiopia?“

This prompt provides the context (write an article), the topic (cultural significance of coffee) and specific countries, resulting in a targeted and informative response.

Poor prompts

• Vague and unclear:
  „Tell me about energy.“

This prompt is very vague and leaves open what type of energy is meant (renewable, fossil fuels, nuclear, etc.), the purpose of the information, or the desired level of detail.

• Overloaded and ambiguous:
  „Can you describe the history, economic significance and political situation in South America for me?“

This prompt is overloaded with several major topics (history, economics, politics), each of which could require extensive answers on its own. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether all South American countries are meant or specific ones.

Tips for improvement

To improve poor prompts, you can make them more specific and targeted:

• From vague prompt to specific prompt:
  Instead of „Tell me about energy,“ you could ask, „How do wind turbines work, and what advantages do they offer over fossil fuels?“
• From cluttered to focused:
  Instead of asking, „Can you describe the history, economic significance and political situation in South America?“, you could break it down into several questions: „What are the key moments in Brazil's history?“ followed by „How important is agriculture to Argentina's economy?“

By applying these tips, prompts can be made more targeted and effective, resulting in clearer and more useful responses.

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A good prompt could include, for example:

1. background information:
   Provide the chatbot with a brief but precise description of what the task involves, who you are, and how you usually present yourself and communicate.
2. Target group:
   Who is the text, message or desired image aimed at?
3. Objective:
   What do you want to achieve? Do you want to give instructions or persuade someone?
4. Style:
   Would you prefer a formal or informal approach? Do you want to convey pure information or use humour?
5. Pitch:
   Do you want to convey or trigger emotions?

A practical example for a successful prompt:

My name is Alain Dusk and I own the largest and most important manufacturer of electric cars in the world, specifically for the German market. Due to the slump in demand caused by the misconduct of German politicians, we have to lay off 10% of our workforce. This is painful, but unfortunately there is no alternative. Write a letter to the employees at our plant in Blauheide informing them that we have to make over 1,000 redundancies. Please word it in such a way that the employees do not become overly concerned about their personal employment situations. Write in a factual and formal manner. Create a feeling that the 12,000 employees as a whole feel sympathy for our company. The lightning rod should be German politicians, not the company management. The text should fit on one A4 page if possible.

This is what a very good and, above all, successful prompt might look like. We think that you are now in a position to develop your own good ideas for formulating your personal prompts. In the next instalment, we will look at the new jobs that are currently being created as a result of the spread of AI. That should be it for this article. But you probably still want to know what solution ChatGPT offers for this challenging prompt. Very well. Here is the answer from ChatGPT-4:

ChatGPT:

Important information regarding upcoming changes in the personnel department

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to you today to inform you of an important decision concerning our plant in Blauheide. As you know, our company is at the forefront of the electric car industry and has always pursued the goal of promoting innovation and progress. This has only been possible thanks to your hard work and dedication.

However, in recent months we have faced an unprecedented challenge. Demand on the German market has declined significantly due to political decisions and general conditions. This development has severely impacted our position and our ability to operate as usual.

After careful consideration and comprehensive analysis of the situation, we have come to the painful conclusion that we must reduce our workforce by approximately 10%. This means that we are unfortunately forced to lay off over 1,000 of our colleagues from the Blauheide plant.

We understand that such news can cause concern and uncertainty. However, it is important for you to understand that this measure is necessary to ensure the stability and future viability of our company. We would like to emphasise that this decision was not taken lightly, but is a direct response to external influences beyond our control.

We are determined to make this transition as smooth and supportive as possible. We will develop a social plan for the employees affected, which will include severance payments, retraining measures and job search assistance. Our goal is to support each and every one of you during this difficult time.

For the remaining employees, I would like to assure you that these measures serve to secure your jobs and the long-term health of our company. We firmly believe that through joint efforts and with your continued valued support, we will overcome the current challenges and emerge from this situation stronger than ever.

We appreciate your understanding and solidarity during these uncertain times. Please feel free to contact your line manager or the HR department if you have any questions or concerns.

With sincere thanks for your continued dedication and commitment,

Alain Dusk, chief executive officer

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How long would someone with personnel responsibility have spent writing this letter? ChatGPT took less than a minute.