AI IN FOCUS

3 Steps to Understand Prompt Engineering

“Prompt engineering” has been a term that has existed since the early days of AI — it was more important with earlier models that took a little more maneuvering and coercing to get desired results, compared to the intelligence of frontier models today. Despite so, job offers in prompt engineering has skyrocketed over the past years.

The challenge being solved is, especially with larger models today (GPT-4 and beyond), despite massive improvements in performance, AI outputs really thrives with better prompting, by a pretty large margin.

Some key terms:

• Zero-shot learning: AI performs a task without any specific examples or training for that task. Relies on general knowledge and understanding of language/concepts.

• One-shot learning: AI learns from a single example of a task. Uses this one example to guide its performance on similar tasks.

• Few-shot learning: AI learns from a small number of examples (typically 2-5). Applies insights from these few examples to new, similar tasks.

Guide: 

1. Understand the Basics: 

   • Start with clear, concise instructions. Instead of vague questions, be specific about what you want the AI to do. For example, instead of asking, "Tell me about AI," specify, "Explain the basics of artificial intelligence in three sentences."

   • Provide context when necessary. If your prompt requires background information for the AI to generate a coherent response, include it in the prompt.

2. Use Techniques for Better Prompts:

   • Role-playing: Frame your prompt as if the AI is an expert in a field. For example, "You are a tech expert. Explain how blockchain technology works.”

   • Step-by-Step Instructions: Break down your query into smaller steps. For example, "First, describe what blockchain is. Then, explain how it ensures security."

3. Practice and Iterate:

   • Experiment with different prompt structures and note the results. Adjust the wording, add or remove context, and refine your instructions until you get the desired outcome.

   • Use feedback loops. If the AI's response isn't quite right, modify your prompt based on the response and try again.

This is just a short overview, but did you know that OpenAI has a whole document about better prompting? It’s worth a read if you work a lot with complex prompts or want to get more out of your AI subscriptions.

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CURATED NEWS

AI in the Headlines

• California's controversial AI bill SB 1047 is set for a critical vote, mandating stricter safety standards for AI developers amidst significant pushback from industry leaders (Fast Company).

• A reporter from the Cody Enterprise in Wyoming has resigned after it was revealed he used generative AI to fabricate quotes in multiple articles, prompting the publication to reassess its editorial standards and AI policies (Fast Company)

• San Francisco's City Attorney has filed a groundbreaking lawsuit aimed at shutting down websites that facilitate the creation of deepfake pornography, targeting the growing issue of "nudification" apps used to exploit minors (New York Times)

• Teachers are expressing concerns about the impact of AI on critical thinking skills among students, highlighting challenges such as reliance on incorrect information and diminished perseverance in tackling difficult tasks (New York Times).

• A judge has allowed artists' lawsuit against Stability AI and Midjourney to proceed, enabling new claims related to copyright infringement while dismissing others, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over AI-generated content (The Verge).

• Google has introduced Pixel Screenshots, an innovative AI-powered app for its Pixel 9 devices that enables users to organize and search their screenshots with ease using the Gemini Nano AI model (The Verge).

• Countries are increasingly adopting A.I. nationalism, striving to develop their own technologies to secure competitive advantages and control over the future of artificial intelligence (New York Times).

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