Riding the Prompt

“Riding the Right Prompt: A Lesson in Asking the Right”

These days, prompts are the new way of asking or searching for anything. While there are countless answers and resources available, asking—or, better yet, prompting—the right way can yield the most relevant results. The time when we spent a lot of effort preparing for answers to a standard set of questions is truly behind us. We are now living in a modern era where we need to focus on preparing the right set of questions instead. I once asked ChatGPT to tell me jokes about prompt engineering, and here’s what it came up with:

“Why did the prompt break up with the AI?”

“Because it just couldn’t get the right response anymore!”

“Why did the prompt engineer bring a ladder to work?”

“Because they wanted to reach new heights in conversation!”

Great jokes, Thanks to chatGPT! But these answers got me thinking further. Prompting is becoming a skill in its own right. The accuracy of the responses you receive often depends on how you frame the prompt. This reminds me of an experience I had that shows how the way you ask can truly impact the outcome.

During our multi-day bicycle trip in the fall of 2018, one particular day left us completely drained. We had ridden up an enormous stretch of uphill terrain on the outskirts of Steubenville, OH, and were so exhausted that we couldn’t move another inch. Somehow, we managed to pull ourselves into a roadside gas station and began asking drivers for a ride to a nearby hotel where we planned to stay that night. It was late in the day, and no one seemed willing to help. We had to look for other options.

We desperately wanted to find a rental or some form of transport that could carry us—and our bikes—to the hotel. I started googling rental trucks, vans, towing services, and similar options but found no immediate solutions. One of our friends then suggested I search for "Reddy Nearby." I asked him what that meant and how it was relevant. He casually replied, “You need to search for the right thing, in the right way, with the right context. I’m sure we’ll find a Reddy in this town to help.”

At first, it sounded like a silly idea, but I gave it a shot. I searched the way he suggested, and—sure enough—we found a Reddy to connect with. What a smart idea he had! I wondered how he was able to think of a prompt with a context-sensitive search that matched our needs. Reddy is a common and popular surname, one of the prominent diaspora groups, from South India. First, he was confident he would find one of them, and second, he was comfortable asking for help since we were from the same region. I was impressed by his intelligent prompting!

The lesson here is clear: ask, prompt, and search for the right thing, in the right way, at the right time. It’s truly an art. In a world filled with overwhelming amounts of resources and answers, we need to develop the skill to ask the right questions—and prompt in the right way—to get the best results.

PromptIT-Right!