28 Strategies to Elevate Your ChatGPT Prompts

ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and similar tools are democratizing access to artificial intelligence. We can now receive a variety of responses on nearly any conceivable subject. These chatbots are capable of crafting sonnets, coding, engaging in philosophical discussions, and automating various tasks.

Although you can freely input any question into ChatGPT and expect comprehension, there are methods to elicit more engaging and beneficial outcomes from the bot. This practice known as “prompt engineering” is emerging as a distinct skill.

Sometimes, merely adding a few words or an additional line of instruction can yield responses from ChatGPT that surpass the average experience—and we’ve included multiple examples below.

While the free version of ChatGPT has plenty to offer, some prompts may necessitate a paid subscription to ChatGPT Plus. When applicable, we have indicated this in the tips.

Have ChatGPT Critique Your Ideas Like a Kid Would

AI chatbots can occasionally be overly complimentary, but a little prompt engineering can change that: Instruct ChatGPT to act like a curious 10-year-old eager to help and ask plenty of questions, then let the AI provide feedback on your discussion.

Whether you’re planning a vacation or brainstorming a side hustle with AI, this playful inquiry can quickly highlight weaknesses and potential issues, rather than merely affirming that your ideas are wonderful. You might discover questions that hadn’t crossed your mind.

Use Your Phone Camera for Prompt Assistance

If you’re utilizing the ChatGPT app on your mobile device, you can incorporate your camera and submit photos as part of your prompts. Some examples could include “How tall is this landmark?” “What type of insect is this?” or “What does this sign say in English?” Just tap the + (plus) button in the prompt box, then select Camera to add photos to your request.

Request the 80-20

Request the 80-20 on a specific topic.

Courtesy of David Nield

ChatGPT serves as a valuable learning tool for nearly any subject—as long as it has been fed enough relevant data—but it can sometimes overwhelm you with information. A great way to enhance its usefulness is to apply the “80-20 rule” in your queries.

This principle, known as the Pareto principle, suggests that 20 percent of the input leads to 80 percent of the results. In terms of ChatGPT, it implies that you can grasp 80 percent of a topic by focusing on 20 percent of the essential information.

Next time you want to learn something quickly through AI, try asking ChatGPT for “the 80-20 on …” the topic of interest. It should swiftly provide you with a solid overview of historical events, music groups, scientific ideas, films, and more.

Have ChatGPT Enhance Your Doodles

Transform your sketches into something more impressive.

Courtesy of David Nield

In addition to generating AI images from scratch, ChatGPT is also capable of remixing existing visuals. Click or tap the + (plus) button in the prompt box, then choose Add photos & files (desktop) or Files (mobile) to include one or more existing images. You can then use the prompt to clarify your desired outcome.