Why PROMPTS matter with Generative AI!
By Susan Gonzales on 02/28/2025 @ 05:03 AM
Why PROMPTS matter with Generative AI!
Hopefully you are exploring different Generative AI tools including ChatGPT, Gemini, LLama, Claude, Perplexity, Co-Pilot. They all offer similar yet different ways we can leverage GenAI in everyday life and work. The one common theme is prompts! These are the questions we ask the GenAI tool to “generate” an answer.
The more specific the prompt, the more specific the answer. Awareness of this critical piece of the GenAI experience is part of AI literacy - we need to understand AI now.
With GenAI in mind - check out the ChatGPT created for me when my prompt was “Create a list of ten questions and answers explaining how prompts work with generative AI in simple terms”. Enjoy!
What is a generative AI prompt?
How does AI understand a prompt?
A prompt is a question or instruction you give to AI to make it create text, images, or other content.
What makes a good prompt?
AI analyzes the words and patterns in the prompt to generate a response based on what it has learned from data.
Can a prompt be too short?
A good prompt is clear, specific, and detailed so the AI knows exactly what you want.
Why does AI sometimes give strange or wrong answers?
Yes, if it's too vague (e.g., "Draw a cat"), the AI might not generate what you expect. Adding details helps (e.g., "Draw a fluffy orange cat sitting on a windowsill").
How can I improve my AI-generated results?
AI doesn't "think" like humans—it predicts words or images based on patterns, so it can misunderstand unclear prompts.
Can AI create things exactly as I imagine?
Be specific, use step-by-step instructions, and refine the prompt if the first result isn't right.
What are some common uses of AI prompts?
Not always, but the more details you provide, the closer it gets to your vision.
Are there limits to what AI can generate?
AI prompts are used for writing stories, creating images, coding, answering questions, and more.
Can I use the same prompt multiple times for different results?
Yes, AI follows rules to avoid harmful or inappropriate content, and it may struggle with highly complex or abstract ideas.
Yes! AI often generates different outputs each time, even with the same prompt.