In today’s column, I am continuing my ongoing coverage of prompt engineering strategies and tactics that aid in getting the most out of using generative AI apps such as ChatGPT, GPT-4, Bard, Gemini, Claude, etc. The focus this time will be a fast-emerging prompting trend involving the altogether sensible and powerful use of long prompts, also colloquially known as mega-prompts.
These Are The Likely Democratic Presidential Candidates If Biden Drops Out—As Rough Debate Prompts Calls To Stand DownBiden’s Debate Performance Torched—Even By Trump Foes—Over Weak Voice And Verbal Stumbles: ‘Hard To Watch’Or do we make use of short prompts because it is easiest on our typing fingers?There is something else that needs to be considered. The use of generative AI is supposed to involve interactivity. That is the core value of generative AI.
An additional complication enters into the fray. One assumption that you might harbor is that a longer prompt might baffle the AI. Perhaps it is safest to keep on the direct and narrow path. Indeed, I am a big advocate of being keenly and tersely to the point as a key precept of prompt engineering, see my explanation about this at
I am saying that you should not toss out the baby with the bathwater. Keep the use of long prompts in your prompt engineering skillset and toolkit. Use long prompts wisely. Write a long prompt with sufficient care. Reread your long prompt before you hit return.One obvious aspect is that you want the long prompt to clue the AI as to what you are trying to say.
As an example of a devilish distractor, suppose I have a lengthy prompt that tells generative AI how I like to cook a certain meal. I am hoping to subsequently ask questions about the cooking process. All seems good and sensible. If anything, the sudden appearance of humor by the AI might be quite puzzling. Beguiling. Confusing to me. How in the heck did we get here, I might be wondering. It would seem completely bizarre.
I am merely saying that as a general rule, use a long prompt when the circumstance suggests doing so. Do not fall into short prompts by a mindless default. Think carefully as to whether a long prompt or short prompting strategy is going to be best for whatever situation you have at hand.The generative AI app that you are using might favor short over long, or long over short, so make sure to know how your chosen AI functions.