There’s an old phrase that states, “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” In summary, it means the results provided by any system are contingent on the quality of the input it receives.
If you’ve ever typed something into an AI tool and gotten a useless response, you’ve experienced this firsthand. This can often lead to a rush to judgement and a blanket assumption that AI doesn’t work. The secret to getting better results, however, is all about what you put into the tool — or what’s known in the AI world as the prompt.
Think of prompting like giving instructions to an assistant who’s eager to help but needs a little direction. The better your instructions, the better the outcome.
So, what makes a good prompt? It’s clear, specific, and gives the AI enough context to understand what you want. A bad prompt is vague, confusing, or too open-ended. For example, asking “Tell me a story” might get you a random response, while “Tell me a fun story about two children exploring Mars” is more likely to get you something interesting.
Prompting is a skill — and like any skill, it gets better with practice. One fun way to improve is to play around with different types of prompts. Try asking the AI to explain something, summarize a long article, write a poem, or even help you brainstorm ideas for a project. Then tweak your prompt and see how the response changes. You’ll start to notice patterns — what works, what doesn’t, and how small changes can make a big difference.
Here’s a quick exercise: Ask the AI to “Explain photosynthesis.” Then try “Explain how photosynthesis works in plants, using simple language for a 5th grader.” See the difference? The second one is more specific and sets the tone for the response. That’s the kind of prompt that gets you useful, tailored answers.
Another great way to learn is by using prompt libraries provided by some of the leading AI platforms. These can act as thought starters, helping you understand what’s possible and then adapt the prompt to your specific needs.
The more you experiment, the more you’ll realize that prompting is kind of like having a conversation. You’re guiding the AI, giving it clues, and helping it understand your intent. And just like in real conversations, clarity matters.
One tip that really helps is to include examples in your prompt. If you want the AI to write a product description, give it a sample first. Say, “Here’s a product description for a coffee mug. Now write one for a water bottle.” That way, the AI knows your style and tone.
You can also use prompting to get creative. Want to write a poem, design a logo, or come up with a name for your new podcast? The right prompt can spark ideas you hadn’t even considered. Try something like, “Give me five name ideas for a podcast about parenting and humor,” and see what pops up.
And don’t forget about refining. If the AI gives you something that’s close but not quite right, you can follow up with a new prompt that builds on the first one. For example, “Can you make that more casual?” or “Add a joke to the intro.” It’s a back-and-forth process, and that’s part of the fun.
One of the best exercises is to work in groups. Have everyone write a prompt for the same task — say, “Write a tweet about AI in education” — and compare the results. You’ll see how different phrasing leads to different outcomes, and you’ll learn from each other’s styles.
At the end of the day, prompting is about communication. You’re telling the AI what you want, how you want it, and why. The more clearly you do that, the better the results. Whether you’re using AI for work, school, or just for fun, mastering the art of prompting can save you time, spark creativity, and make your interactions way more productive. So try a new prompt today and see what happens. You might be surprised by how quickly you can go from trash — the old “garbage in, garbage out” — to treasure.
Anthony Juliano is vice president and general manager at Asher Agency and the founder of Point Six Four Consulting and Training. He is an experienced speaker, trainer, writer, and marketing and communication strategist, and he focuses on a variety of topics, including communication, marketing, branding, productivity, and LinkedIn. He lives in Fort Wayne.
