Generative AI and Copilot: Prompt Engineering

What is prompt engineering?

Prompt engineering refers to the different ways you can instruct a gen AI tool. A clear and precise prompt is more likely to provide a relevant output. Prompting the gen AI tool to respond with a certain perspective, can help put things into your context and level of learning.

Things to consider with prompt engineering for your studies: 

• It is important that you only use gen AI as an educational tool, and not as a replacement for learning
• If you use gen AI for assignments, always apply caution and critically evaluate the output information
• Remember, gen AI is a text-generation tool, NOT a source of credible information, and can hallucinate and fabricate information
  • Check the output against credible sources for accuracy (e.g. Library Search or academic databases)
  • Verify references (if provided), and all information by identifying credible sources to back up the generated output
  • Undertake lateral research to verify and build on the information provided in the output to learn more
• Be aware of 'confirmation bias' in the output and inaccurate responses

 

Prompting using 'RICE'

Applying a structure to your prompt can produce a more relevant output.

Using RICE as a guide, provide as much context, detail and boundaries as possible:

R - Role

• The level and role the gen AI should assume, e.g. 'a university tutor'

I - Instructions

• The focus, format, style, intended audience, e.g. 'research terms for a 2nd year Arts university student'

C - Context

• Details about the task you want addressed; be clear, e.g. 'Climate Change,' and include examples of your own work to help the gen AI tool ('few-shot' prompting)
• An example of 'few-shot' prompting would be to include your own brainstormed search keywords and prompt the tool to add any you may have missed

E - Expectations

• State specific output requirements, e.g. 'help me identify research gaps,' 'do not hallucinate if information is unknown,' 'be accurate and provide links to sources for verification.'
• It is important not to request for the gen AI tool to output full assessment material as this would be Academic Misconduct. It is only an educational tool, not a replacement for learning.

 

 

Watch: Prompt engineering.

For more detail on prompt engineering see the Academic Skills @ ECU page on Understanding Generative AI.

Prompt engineering for GenAI image generators is similar to engineering for text-based GenAI, except the Context is less important, and the Task and Outcome parts are more visual. Consider:

• Composition and Framing: “Close-up,” “Low angle,” etc.
• Style and Technique: “Art Deco,” “1920s,” etc. Or “Black and white,” “Photography,” etc.
• Context and Vibe: “Studio shoot,” “Vibrant,” etc.

All this is in addition to the Content.

For example, the prompt:

Can you make me a close-up photo of a clown in a space suit with dramatic lighting

Will be very different to:

Please make a wide-angle image of a clown in a space suit in Cubist style.