Getting Started with the Leading Tools
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) refers to a rapidly advancing class of applications that employ a Large Language Model (LLM) and extensive data analysis to produce fresh content, encompassing text, images, code, audio, video, and more. These generative AI tools are capable of summarizing, revising, altering, and creating text or images in a manner that closely approximates human work. OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, has released a comprehensive overview of educator considerations and FAQs related to generative AI.
Get familiar with some of the most popular GenAI tools below:
- A collaborative project between Microsoft’s search engine and OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT-4 Turbo and the image generator, DALL-E 3. Because it runs in the sidebar of your Edge browser, Copilot can perform searches and render creations based on the pages being viewed. In other words, due to its integrations, this singular tool is now capable of performing complex tasks that would have required multiple AI tools.
- One of the benefits of using Copilot is that Marshall currently holds an Enterprise license with this Microsoft product. Copilot Enterprise has a unique design that distinguishes it from the consumer version. Above the chat input box and on top of every chat answer, users see a message confirming “Your personal and company data are protected in this chat.”
- CoPilot allows users to select from three response tones (More Creative, More Balanced, or More Precise) to align with their specific needs. If you are seeking strictly fact-based and current output, select the “more precise” tone. Choosing the “balanced” mode would produce the best results for many work-related tasks, like creating presentations or talking points.
- Powered by Bing/OpenAI, this image generator can use text to create original art or realistic images combining concepts, attributes, and styles. It can also expand images beyond what’s in the original canvas to create new compositions, make realistic edits to existing images, or create variations based on an original image. This tutorial will show you how to get started in Bing, and specifically how to craft strong prompts to produce the desired results. DALL-E3 is now integrated into Copilot.
- A text generator model, in which the GPT stands for “Generative Pre-training Transformer.” It offers free access, but there’s also a paid subscription called ChatGPT Plus, which provides access to the newer GPT-4 language model, faster response times, and priority access to new features such as the Code Interpreter plugin. With the plugin, you can analyze data, create charts, edit files, perform math, etc. Code Interpreter is an official ChatGPT plugin for data analytics, image conversions, and editing code. When you use Microsoft’s Copilot, you are actually accessing GPT-4.
- Google’s AI chatbot. Also used as the underlying language model, Duet AI, in Google Drive. Although these versions are generally quite similar, they may vary slightly in tone or content.
- One notable feature of Bard is that it generates three versions of each response for user review. Another notable feature is the multimodal search, allowing users the ability to input pictures as well as text.
- The most significant difference is Bard’s data source – the internet. ChatGPT uses “pre-trained transformer technology,” meaning that it’s training data ends at 2022. Bard, on the other hand, continually draws from the internet, so it’s generations are based on more current data.
- An AI text generator developed by Anthropic AI, known for its cautious approach to text generation. Claude offers the unique advantage of allowing users to upload files to incorporate into prompts without requiring payment for advanced features.
Crafting Strong Prompts for AI Tools
Resource Spotlight: Practical AI for Instructors & Students, “Prompting AI” by Wharton Interactive
In this video, Ethan Mollick, Faculty Director at Wharton Interactive, and Lilach Mollick, Director of Pedagogy, delve into effective methods for prompting AI entities like ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing. They also highlight the importance of incorporating personal expertise into interactions. This video is Part 3 of a comprehensive five-part course by Wharton Interactive, where educators and students receive an insightful introduction to AI Large Language Models. The course adopts a pragmatic approach to understand the models’ functionality, providing sample prompts and guidelines, as well as how students can leverage AI to enhance their learning experiences.
Strong Prompts are Shaped by Purpose…
- Provide details: Detailed prompts help the AI better align with your intended tone, style, or purpose. Complex questions or tasks often require more context to generate meaningful answers, and details can aid in this process. Providing cultural and contextual information can help ensure that the AI respects and considers cultural sensitivities and norms in its responses.
- Rephrase as needed: If a prompt is ambiguous or has multiple interpretations, rephrasing can help eliminate confusion and ensure the AI generates the intended response. Rephrasing can open up new angles or approaches to a question or problem, potentially leading to more insightful or innovative answers. When asking about niche or specialized topics, rephrasing can help ensure that the AI understands the context and generates accurate responses.
- Combine prompts: Combining prompts allows you to break down complex problems or tasks into smaller, more manageable sub-tasks. Each prompt can address a specific aspect of the problem, enabling the AI to provide a comprehensive solution. For tasks that involve multiple steps or actions, combining prompts can guide the AI through each step sequentially, ensuring a coherent and effective execution of the task. Combining prompts allows the AI to cross-reference information from various sources or viewpoints, which can lead to more informed and balanced responses. When generating creative content or brainstorming ideas, combining prompts can trigger different creative angles and perspectives, leading to more imaginative and diverse outputs.
- Choose a conversation style: You can specify the language style you want, whether it’s formal, casual, academic, or technical. You can even specify levels of expertise by directing it to explain as if you were a “third-grader” or a “graduate student.”
- Use the New Topic button: To transition to a different subject, simply press the “New topic” button. This action provides the model with a fresh start, ensuring that it doesn’t combine unrelated subjects.
- Specify the length of the response: Would you prefer a concise response or a more detailed explanation? You have the option to specify the length, such as two sentences or two paragraphs, to direct the model accordingly. If the response doesn’t meet your expectations, you can always instruct it to “continue.”
- Specify a format: Consider format. Bing has the capability to gather data and insights from various online sources, presenting them in diverse formats to enhance comprehension. For instance, it can organize data into tables and outlines for a structured view, or use diagrams and flow charts to aid users in visualizing intricate information.
Strong Prompts Start With…
Create a…
It’s useful for tasks that involve creating solutions, strategies, or recommendations, making it an effective prompt for practical problem-solving. “Create” prompts can inspire the AI to provide fresh perspectives or creative insights, helping you overcome creative blocks or generate new content ideas. “Create” is an action verb, which directs the AI to take a specific action rather than just providing information or answering a question. This is particularly useful when you want the AI to generate creative content.
Mimic this style…
“Mimic” prompts the AI to generate content that emulates the style, tone, or format of a given input, making it useful for tasks like generating content in the style of a particular author or mimicking a specific voice. This prompt can be used to simulate or replicate real-world scenarios, behaviors, or outcomes, making it useful in various simulation and modeling applications. Using “mimic” can prompt the AI to generate content that matches the quality and standards of the example.
Explain…
When you want the AI to provide logical reasoning or explanations for a sequence of events or a particular argument, “explain” can be a valuable starting point. This prompt will provide a detailed explanation of a complex topic, theory, or concept. The response for the “explain” prompt will usually be comprehensive and cohesive.
Act as a…
When you want the AI to simulate or role-play as a particular character, persona, or entity, using “act as” can guide the AI in embodying that role and providing responses consistent with it. For example, you can instruct the AI to “act as a historical figure” or “act as a customer.” In problem-solving tasks, you can instruct the AI to “act as an expert” in a specific field to provide solutions, recommendations, or insights from the perspective of an expert. “Act as” can be useful for interactive dialogues where the AI assumes different roles, allowing you to engage in dynamic and simulated conversations. For instance, you can have the AI “act as an interviewer” or “act as a tour guide.” When you need the AI to simulate real-world scenarios or processes, using “act as” can prompt the AI to simulate actions, events, or outcomes. This is valuable for training simulations, gaming, or scenario planning.
Give me some examples of…
“Give examples” is useful when you want the AI to provide concrete examples to illustrate abstract or theoretical ideas, making them more relatable and tangible. In creative or brainstorming sessions, you can use this prompt to generate a range of examples related to a specific theme or idea, sparking creativity and innovation. If you want to compare different options, solutions, or choices, asking the AI to “give examples” can yield a set of examples for comparison, aiding in decision-making. Educators can utilize “give examples” to demonstrate various scenarios, models, or case studies to enhance the learning experience for their students. In scientific or technical fields, you can request the AI to provide specific examples to illustrate principles, theories, or equations.
Complete this sentence…
“Complete this sentence” directs the AI to produce content that is contextually relevant and follows the established pattern or structure of the sentence, ensuring coherence. Writers and authors can use this prompt to develop storylines, character dialogues, or narrative elements by asking the AI to complete sentences related to their writing projects. You can use this prompt to explore different possibilities or perspectives by providing various sentence starters and asking the AI to complete them in distinct ways. It serves as a convenient way to create fill-in-the-blank exercises, allowing the AI to generate the missing words or phrases in sentences for educational or quiz purposes. You can request the AI to complete sentences in different language styles, tones, or voices, enabling diverse and customized content generation.
Make a list of…
This is valuable in various contexts, including organization, planning, decision-making, content creation, and information retrieval, as it prompts the AI to provide structured and itemized lists tailored to your specific needs. When you want to prioritize tasks, goals, or objectives, you can request the AI to “make a list” of items, allowing you to rank them based on importance or urgency.
Summarize the key concepts of…
Rather than posing an open-ended question like “what is relativity,” opt for this prompt to ensure that the model is guided toward a succinct treatment of central concepts.
Additional Resources
GenAI Chatbot Prompt Library for Educators
This library of prompts spans faculty and student needs, including: professional development workshop planning, reference letters, authentic assessments, rubrics, taxonomies, lesson plan gamification, syllabus design, social-emotional learning academic integration…