Talk to AI like you’d talk to a friend

Start with what’s on your mind

“I need a birthday message for my sister.”

“What can I cook with these ingredients?”

“Can you explain this word?”

A prompt is just the message you send. Start with the thing you want help with.

Add the detail you’d tell a friend

If you asked a friend for dinner ideas, you’d probably mention that you only have half an hour. Tell the AI that too.

Instead of “Write a birthday message,” try: “Help me write a birthday message for my sister. We tease each other a lot, so make it funny but affectionate. Just a few lines.”

You can add that detail in your next message if you forgot it.

Say when it doesn’t sound right

The first answer is something to work with. Reply the way you would in a conversation:

• “Make it more casual.”
• “Give me three different ideas.”
• “I still don’t get it. Can you use an example?”
• “Keep the first sentence, but change the ending.”

You can point to the bit you like and ask it to work on the rest.

You can ask it where to start

Have a messy idea? Try: “I want to plan a birthday dinner, but I don’t know where to start. Ask me a few questions.”

Or say: “I’m new to this. Walk me through it one step at a time.”

You don’t need a template for every conversation. Explain what’s happening, see what comes back, and take it from there.

If you haven’t picked an app yet, here are a few places to start.