This is part 2 of a 6-part mini essay base. It is written in a simple language to help non-technical users get started on AI and Prompt Engineering.
When we started talking to people about our plan to build Hola playground, we were confronted by 2 key questions – Isn’t it just English and isn’t it just how serach on Google? Why should I learn it?
This is how we responded:
- Prompts are indeed English but AI models are not humans – they interpret prompts differently than humans. Subtle variations in phrasing can lead to significantly different outputs (even amongst the various LLMs / AI models themselves)
- AI models are much more capable then Search – the search model was/is to show a list of websites that matched the user query (and Google with its PageRank system is an absolute master at that). AI is capable of answering (generating the response to) the question directly, in any desired format and increasingly even getting the job done via Agents.
Learning how AI systems react to prompts is critical. Here are 5 key reasons why learning and practicing prompt engineering in a structured way is important:
- Understanding variations in AI Behaviour: Different models interpret language differently. Knowing how to phrase prompts improves results.
- Consistency and Reliability : Structured prompts ensure reliable and reproducible results.
- Addressing Complex Tasks: Breaking down tasks or refining prompts systematically handles nuanced applications.
- Improved Efficiency: Structured methods save time compared to trial-and-error.
- Learn advanced Techniques to optimised outputs: Advanced techniques (e.g., chain-of-thought, few-shot learning) boost accuracy and creativity.
Think of prompt engineering as similar to programming. While code is “just typing,” effective programming requires understanding syntax, logic, and best practices. Similarly, while prompts are “just English,” effective prompt engineering requires understanding how to communicate with AI systems in ways that maximise their potential.
Alight, if you are still here and keen to add Prompt Engineering to your skill repertoire, let’s first explore how it works – what happens behind the scenes when you type in a prompt.
Hola 