How do I tell AI what I want?

Talking to an AI is a lot like giving instructions to a competent (but very literal) assistant.

If you say, “Get me three symptoms,” they might return anything. But if you say, “Please find three three symptoms my patient had in our session, summarize the key findings in three bullet points, and keep the tone professional,” you’ll get a result that’s much closer to what you want.

You don’t need technical knowledge to do this well. Clarity and specificity make all the difference. These models are trained on large amounts of everyday language, so they respond best when you write to them the way you would write to another person.

Below are a few simple tips to help you create effective prompts:

1. Be clear about what you need

Say precisely what you want the AI to do: summarize something, draft an email, rewrite text, or explain a concept. The more precise the request, the better the answer.

2. Provide the proper context

Add any details that matter: who the content is for, what the goal is, or what information should be highlighted. Context helps the system stay aligned with your intent.

3. Break complex tasks into smaller steps

If the request has several parts, send them one at a time. Smaller, focused prompts are easier for the system to follow and easier for you to control.

4. Treat it like a conversation

You don’t have to get it perfect on the first try. Start with an initial request, check the answer, then refine or ask follow-up questions. Iteration usually leads to the best results.