Getting Started with Prompts for AI Tools

Creating Effective Prompts for AI Tools: A Quick Guide

Your prompts play a huge role in shaping the quality of AI-generated outputs. Descriptive, specific prompts help AI generate better, more accurate responses. This guide provides tips on crafting effective prompts. Additional resources can be found on our Office of Technology Services AI page.

Key Reminders

Review AI Outputs Carefully: AI content can be inaccurate or even offensive. Always review content closely before using it for Lone Star College purposes.
Follow College Guidelines: Make sure to consult Lone Star College’s AI guidelines before using AI for work-related tasks.

Tips for Effective Prompts for AI-Generated Text

Be Specific
Generic prompts yield generic results. Add details like genre, audience, tone, or length for improved accuracy. For example, instead of “Write a story,” try “Write a short, funny story for young children about a talking dog.” Specificity helps narrow down the response and reduces the chance of inaccuracies.
"Act as if…"
Ask AI to take on a role or persona to guide its response. For example, “Act as if you are a personal trainer. Create a post-workout recipe with chicken, tomatoes, and rice, without chili peppers or wheat.”
Specify Output Format
Describe the format you want, such as “Write a summary of this topic” or “Present this as a step-by-step guide.” AI can produce text in various formats, so specifying helps ensure you get the output type you need.
Use “Do” and “Don’t” Statements
If there are particular elements you want included or avoided, specify them. For example, “Create a recipe for a quick lunch. Do include spinach and eggs; don’t include any dairy.”
Provide Examples
Examples help AI understand the style or structure you’re aiming for. Just avoid using copyrighted material for reference.
Consider Tone and Audience
Tell AI about the intended audience and tone. For example, “Suggest ideas for a best man’s speech that is funny and family-friendly.”
Build on Your Prompts
Start with a basic question and refine it over time. You can add more details or rephrase to guide AI toward the desired output.
Correct and Give Feedback
Treat AI like a collaborative tool. If it makes a mistake, let it know. Feedback can help steer future responses.
Ask for Help with Prompts
Unsure how to phrase a prompt? Ask AI to help! For example, “How should I prompt you to help me create a blog post about AI?” Or try “What more do you need from me?” to guide AI’s responses.

Use these strategies to create effective prompts and make the most of AI tools in your work.

AI-generated image of a jack russell terrier analyzing data on a computer

Using AI Image Tools

Like text-based AI, image-generation tools like Adobe Firefly rely on prompts to create quality visuals. After you enter a prompt, the AI interprets it to generate an image based on patterns it has learned. Clear, descriptive prompts improve the quality of these outputs. Here’s a quick guide to getting started with image-based AI tools.

Important Considerations

Review AI-Generated Content Carefully: Image quality varies widely, and AI tools can sometimes generate offensive or inaccurate visuals. Be sure to carefully review any AI-generated images before using them in Lone Star College materials.
Copyright Awareness: Firefly is trained on Adobe Stock images, openly licensed content, and public domain materials, which helps avoid copyright issues. We recommend using Firefly for safe, copyright-compliant experimentation with AI-generated images.
AI Limitations: Like text-based AI, image tools can “hallucinate” or create strange visual elements, such as extra fingers, distorted bodies, or inappropriate objects in scenes. Watch for these oddities, especially in detailed images or when depicting people.