Prompt Engineering: Getting Better Results from AI
The way you phrase a request to an AI strongly affects the quality of the answer. 'Prompt engineering' is simply the skill of asking clearly, and anyone can learn the basics.
This article shares practical techniques you can use today.
Core Techniques
- Give context: who you are and what you need it for.
- Be specific about format, length and tone.
- Provide an example of a good answer where you can.
- Ask it to say when it is unsure rather than guess.
Why It Works
A model has no idea of your intent beyond your words. More context narrows the range of plausible answers towards the one you actually want.
Iterate, Do Not Expect Perfection
Even a well-written prompt rarely nails it first time. Treat it as a short conversation, refining as you go.
- Start with a clear first attempt.
- Refine based on what comes back.
- Save prompts that work well for reuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is prompt engineering a real skill?
It is a practical one rather than a technical specialism. Anyone can improve their results quickly with a little practice.
Should we save good prompts?
Yes. Keeping a shared library of prompts that work well saves time and keeps results consistent across your team.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.