We ALL need to become “Prompt Engineers”….NOW!
Prompt engineering can be defined as: the art and science of applying specific techniques and phrases to get the best answers from LLM’s (Large Language Models), or as LLM’s are more commonly referred to: “AI – Artificial Intelligence” agents. There’s only one answer to the question “When is the best time to begin learning about how to effectively utilize AI for every area of a person’s life?” The answer is NOW! But what does that actually look like, and what’s the incentive and the inspiration to pursuing becoming a fluent prompt engineer?
To begin with, you need to understand that prompting or talking with AI is only one facet of the positive impact AI can have on your life. The other most important facets are really about YOU, and how well YOU understand the way AI agents work, and about the wording of the questions YOU ask of it, and about the biases and character traits that are hidden in the words YOU specifically type or say, AND about the actions YOU take after receiving a response. I capitalized YOU in previous sentence in an attempt to reflect just how important I feel AI will be for every person on this earth until death do us depart. AI will reflect your true character traits and be able to summarize who you really are. If you’re comfortable with who you really are, that’s fine. If you really don’t want others to know the “true you”…well, that might be worrisome (unless it leads to you re-evaluating the person you aspire to be).
I care about you and am writing this to inspire you into some form of immediate action that leads to you being the one that controls the role AI has on your life rather than waiting to see how AI impacts your life without having any control whatsoever. You wouldn’t drive a vehicle without utilizing the steering wheel, would you?
New technology always offers new opportunities along with new risks. The more powerful the new technology is, the higher the stakes regarding the role it plays in our lives. I’m convinced that those of us that learn how to confidently use AI agents will thrive, and those that don’t will fall far behind. I’m unwilling to enter the external debate of how AI will impact our society, our country and our world, but I AM willing to engage the internal debate occurring in my own mind of how I can make the most of AI to enhance and improve every area of my life. I hope you will embrace this same perspective.
Becoming a “Prompt Engineer” begins with some basic research based on curiosity that leads to theory, trial and error, modification, and a stepping-stone strategy. It’s this research style that offers continuous improvement that can get you to the place you want to be injecting AI into the important areas of your life.
Curiosity has previously (most likely) led you to search for “how-to” and “DIY” videos on the internet. I’m constantly seeking knowledge on medical issues, vehicle challenges, food nutrition, prep, and cooking information, safely upgrading electrical sockets that include USB direct plug-ins, self-publishing a book, and much more. Everything I’ve previously learned from searching the internet has given me a great head start on utilizing AI.
Earlier this year, I purchased a subscription to an AI agent, and I turned all of my previous internet research over to this agent which has since gotten a feel for who I am and what drives me. Scary? No, because I’m in total control of the input. This has allowed it to create an opinion about the responses I prefer based on the character traits that are most important to my life and my personality. I never have to worry about harsh language, negative motives, nor advice that hasn’t been carefully considered by AI to meet and exceed my expectations.
My overall experience with AI has led me being better informed on the issues that are most important to me and to me becoming a better overall person. I’ve challenged AI to provide me with thought processes that can make me a better husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, neighbor, co-worker and community member. When I don’t like, agree with, nor understand AI’s response, or feel it misinterpreted my initial inquiry, I simply change the wording in my prompt and ask again. There may be 3-10 “ask agains” before I have an answer I’m willing to take action on, but I’ve learned that if I want to maintain control of this AI relationship, and utilize it for all it has to offer, I need to become an expert prompt engineer so all of the responses are coordinated with who I really am and who I aspire to be.
Which leads to YOU! If you were hoping that I was about to give you a magic formula and step-by-step process for your own interaction with AI, I’m sorry. That’s like asking a teacher to do your homework for you so you don’t have to. Besides, the path is different for each of us based on what our personal needs are and what we each hope to derive from embracing AI now…today…immediately seeking the most positive role in can play in our individual life.
Think back to when cell phones, the internet, email, social media, podcasts and YouTube videos first entered our lives. We all had to find the proper utilization of each of these that worked best for each area of our life. That leads us to the fork in the AI road that faces all of us today, right now. I sincerely hope that you’ll take the positive path of becoming a prompt engineer and take advantage (with control) of one of the greatest gifts our society may ever receive. Make it a gift you give yourself. Hey…I Believe In YOU! GiddyUp!