Prompt Engineering at the Workplace
Prompt Engineering at the Workplace
Today, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) at the workplace is more evident than ever. From drafting emails to summarizing lengthy documents or automating repetitive tasks, AI-powered tools can be incredibly useful for enhancing professional performance. However, to achieve truly effective results, it is essential to know how to properly interact with these technologies. This is where prompt engineering plays a key role, as it is the art of crafting clear, specific instructions to guide AI to generate relevant, high-quality responses in less time.
So, what exactly is a “prompt”? In the context of AI, a prompt is a simple or complex phrase or set of instructions that a user enters into a generative AI model (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot) to generate specific content or responses. In that sense, the effectiveness of a prompt depends on the user’s ability to guide the model towards producing results that meet their objectives and criteria, both in format and content, whether in the form of text, image, code, or data.
Mastering the use of prompts not only improves our interaction with AI, but also strengthens key soft skills such as writing, critical thinking, and planning. For example, if you are working in English and struggle to express yourself naturally, you can ask the AI: "Rewrite this email in English to make it sound more professional and polite." Or, if you want to save time on routine tasks, you could say: "Write a short, professional email to: negotiate a contract, request an extension, follow up on a proposal," and so on. You can also use prompts to translate messages, brainstorm ideas for presentations, write company or service descriptions, or even draft diplomatic replies to complex emails. The key is to be clear about what you need and why you need it.
While there is no single formula for writing the perfect prompt, structuring it strategically can make a significant difference in the results we get. Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT), suggests using a basic structure that includes the following elements:
Keep in mind that it is not necessary to include all of these elements in every prompt, but incorporating at least a few of them can significantly improve the quality of the responses. Even if you are unsure how to phrase your request, you can ask the AI to generate an appropriate prompt for you based on this structure, and then adjust it to fit your needs, or continue refining your request through follow-up prompts as part of an ongoing conversation.
Many users have recently wondered whether saying “please” or “thank you” to the AI affects its responses. While it is true that using polite language can lead the model to reply in a more friendly and respectful tone and can help it better interpret the intent behind our request, it does not influence the accuracy or speed of the responses, as these depend solely on data, training, and context, not emotions.
In an increasingly digital work environment, knowing how to interact effectively with AI tools is becoming a key skill. That’s why prompt engineering is not just for tech experts — it’s for any professional who wishes to work in a more efficient, creative, and strategic manner. AI is a powerful tool, and it is accessible to everyone. Getting the most out of it largely depends on our ability to ask the right questions in the right way.
So, what exactly is a “prompt”? In the context of AI, a prompt is a simple or complex phrase or set of instructions that a user enters into a generative AI model (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot) to generate specific content or responses. In that sense, the effectiveness of a prompt depends on the user’s ability to guide the model towards producing results that meet their objectives and criteria, both in format and content, whether in the form of text, image, code, or data.
Mastering the use of prompts not only improves our interaction with AI, but also strengthens key soft skills such as writing, critical thinking, and planning. For example, if you are working in English and struggle to express yourself naturally, you can ask the AI: "Rewrite this email in English to make it sound more professional and polite." Or, if you want to save time on routine tasks, you could say: "Write a short, professional email to: negotiate a contract, request an extension, follow up on a proposal," and so on. You can also use prompts to translate messages, brainstorm ideas for presentations, write company or service descriptions, or even draft diplomatic replies to complex emails. The key is to be clear about what you need and why you need it.
While there is no single formula for writing the perfect prompt, structuring it strategically can make a significant difference in the results we get. Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT), suggests using a basic structure that includes the following elements:
- Goal and role: Clearly define what you want to achieve and specify the role the AI should take on (e.g., act as a “business consultant”, “marketing specialist”, “English teacher”, etc.).
- Response format: Specify exactly how you want the answer to be structured (e.g., bullet points, a table, a specific number of paragraphs, etc.).
- Warnings: Point out any important limitations, such as the need for accurate data, verified sources, or the exclusion of outdated information.
- Context: Explain the purpose of your request, provide examples, or clarify your intention, target audience, tone, etc.
Keep in mind that it is not necessary to include all of these elements in every prompt, but incorporating at least a few of them can significantly improve the quality of the responses. Even if you are unsure how to phrase your request, you can ask the AI to generate an appropriate prompt for you based on this structure, and then adjust it to fit your needs, or continue refining your request through follow-up prompts as part of an ongoing conversation.
Many users have recently wondered whether saying “please” or “thank you” to the AI affects its responses. While it is true that using polite language can lead the model to reply in a more friendly and respectful tone and can help it better interpret the intent behind our request, it does not influence the accuracy or speed of the responses, as these depend solely on data, training, and context, not emotions.
In an increasingly digital work environment, knowing how to interact effectively with AI tools is becoming a key skill. That’s why prompt engineering is not just for tech experts — it’s for any professional who wishes to work in a more efficient, creative, and strategic manner. AI is a powerful tool, and it is accessible to everyone. Getting the most out of it largely depends on our ability to ask the right questions in the right way.