In a move aimed at empowering its user base of over 180 million, OpenAI has unveiled an official prompt engineering guide to help users derive optimal results from its powerful language model, ChatGPT.
The guide shares invaluable strategies and tactics that users can combine to enhance the effectiveness of their prompts and maximize the utility of ChatGPT in various business applications.
The guide, a comprehensive resource, outlines the nine key components of an effective prompt and highlights four common pitfalls to avoid when interacting with ChatGPT. OpenAI encourages users to experiment with the large language model to save time and elevate their business operations to new heights.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
Perfecting Prompts: Writing Clear Instructions for ChatGPT
OpenAI stresses the importance of providing crystal-clear and explicit instructions to ChatGPT, reminding users that “These models can’t read your mind.” The guide advises users to keep instructions simple and specific as if explaining a task to a junior team member.
“If outputs are too long, ask for brief replies. If outputs are too simple, ask for expert-level writing. If you dislike the format, demonstrate the format you’d like to see,” it said.
OpenAI emphasizes that the more detailed the instructions, the higher the likelihood of obtaining the desired results.
The guide provides examples of effective instructions, such as asking the model to adopt a specific persona, like “act as a business coach.” Techniques like line breaks and explicit specifications of desired output length are also recommended to ensure clarity. OpenAI encourages users to leave nothing to chance and provide instructions that leave minimal room for interpretation.
Provide Reference Text: Guiding ChatGPT with External Context
Highlighting the significance of explicit guidance, OpenAI acknowledges the potential for language models to invent fake answers.
“Language models can confidently invent fake answers, especially when asked about esoteric topics or for citations and URLs,” as OpenAI admitted.
To counter this, users are advised to include reference text, guiding the model’s responses. Whether instructing the model to answer using specific content from the reference text or demanding citations for accuracy, providing a reference serves as a critical component in crafting effective prompts.
In the same way that a sheet of notes can aid a student in an exam, reference text helps ChatGPT answer with fewer fabrications. This step ensures that the model grounds its responses in existing knowledge, offering more accurate and reliable information.
Split Complex Tasks: Breaking Down for Better Results
The guide draws parallels between software engineering principles and prompt construction, advocating for the decomposition of complex tasks into modular components.
“Just as it is good practice in software engineering to decompose a complex system into a set of modular components, the same is true of tasks submitted to a language model,” said OpenAI’s team within the guide. “Complex tasks tend to have higher error rates than simpler tasks.”
OpenAI advised that breaking down intricate requests into simpler subtasks not only reduces error rates but also facilitates more accurate responses.
In acknowledgment of the model’s processing time requirements, users are encouraged to refrain from demanding immediate answers. OpenAI recommends asking for a “chain of thought” before a final answer, allowing the model to reason its way toward a more reliable response. This collaborative approach ensures accuracy by giving the model the necessary time to process information thoroughly.
Give the Model Time: Allowing ChatGPT to Think
OpenAI stated that ChatGPT, like any problem solver, needs time to “think.” The guide suggests that asking for a ‘chain of thought’ before an answer can help the model reason its way toward correct answers more reliably. In scenarios where immediate answers may lead to reasoning errors, allowing the model time to process information becomes crucial.
Instructing the model to work out its solution before rushing to a conclusion enables a more thoughtful response. By encouraging users to be patient and collaborative in the process, OpenAI ensures that ChatGPT has the necessary time to generate accurate and well-thought-out answers.
Use External Tools: Enhancing ChatGPT’s Capabilities
Recognizing the model’s limitations, OpenAI advises users to integrate outputs from external tools to compensate for weaknesses.
“Compensate for the weaknesses of the model by feeding it the outputs of other tools,” said OpenAI.
The guide specifically mentions tools like the Code Interpreter for tasks such as math and code execution. OpenAI encourages users to tell the model about relevant documents or utilize external tools for more reliable and efficient results.
“A code execution engine like OpenAI’s Code Interpreter can help the model do math and run code,” which means you can upload spreadsheets or documents and ask for information based on the stats and numbers.
Compensating for the weaknesses of the model by leveraging the outputs of other tools becomes a crucial strategy. OpenAI recommends combining the strengths of external tools with ChatGPT’s capabilities to achieve the best of both worlds and enhance overall performance.
Test Changes Systematically: Ensuring Incremental Improvement
OpenAI emphasizes the importance of testing changes systematically to enhance performance. The guide advises users to measure the impact of prompt modifications through a comprehensive test suite, ensuring that improvements are consistent across various scenarios. The message is clear – first measured, then managed.
By defining a comprehensive test suite, users can make incremental changes to prompts and assess the impact on performance. This systematic approach enables users to understand which prompts and outputs lead to better results, fostering a continuous improvement mindset.
Get Better Results: OpenAI’s Guide to Perfect Prompts for ChatGPT
OpenAI’s official guide provides a comprehensive roadmap for users to unlock the full potential of ChatGPT in their business endeavors. By perfecting prompts through clear instructions, navigating complex tasks with thoughtful decomposition, leveraging external tools, and systematically testing changes, users can achieve optimal results.
OpenAI encourages users to approach ChatGPT with a mindset of experimentation, enabling them to save time and supercharge their businesses successfully. This guide serves as the key to prompt mastery and business success with ChatGPT.