7 Things Not to Say in AI Prompts

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we work, create, and interact with technology. But to get the best results from AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Bing AI, or Claude, there’s one thing you need to know: how to talk to them.

If you’ve ever gotten vague or unhelpful responses from AI, it might not be the tool’s fault. AI responses depend heavily on how well you phrase your prompts. What you say—or don’t say—matters a lot more than you might think. In this article, we’ll walk you through seven things you should avoid saying when interacting with AI. These tips will help you get the most accurate, relevant, and creative answers from these powerful tools.

1. “Give me a summary of everything.”

While this might seem like a good way to get a quick overview of a topic, it’s too vague. AI systems need specific guidance to focus on the most important aspects of what you’re asking for. A broad request like this can lead to overly generic or incomplete responses.

Better approach: Be specific about what you want summarized. For example, “Summarize the key points of the 2023 AI advancements report in 3 sentences” or “Can you summarize the main points of blockchain technology?”

2. “Explain it like I’m a 5-year-old.”

While it’s tempting to use simple language, this approach can often cause the AI to oversimplify complex topics. If your question involves technical, scientific, or nuanced content, asking for a child’s explanation can make the answer too basic and not helpful at all.

Better approach: Tailor the level of complexity to your needs. Instead, try saying, “Explain it in simple terms for a beginner” or “Explain it for someone with no prior knowledge in the field.”

3. “Tell me what everyone else says.”

AI doesn’t pull answers from a single, curated source of public opinion. Instead, it generates responses based on patterns it’s learned. Asking it to simply “tell you what everyone else says” might lead to unoriginal or biased answers.

Better approach: If you want diverse viewpoints or trends, be more specific. For example, “What are the top 3 opinions on AI in healthcare?” or “Give me a range of expert opinions on renewable energy.”

4. “Can you write me a perfect essay?”

Perfection is subjective, especially when it comes to writing. Asking an AI to generate a “perfect” essay might result in an answer that is overly formal, robotic, or doesn’t meet your specific style or tone.

Better approach: Specify what type of essay you want. For example, “Write a persuasive essay on the benefits of remote work, with a conversational tone” or “Write an academic essay on the history of space exploration, including citations.”

5. “Write me something that will go viral.”

There’s no magic formula for virality, and AI can’t predict what will become popular online. While AI can certainly help you craft engaging content, asking it to create something guaranteed to “go viral” is unrealistic and may not result in the creative or high-quality output you need.

Better approach: Focus on content that’s creative, authentic, and engaging. For example, “Write a fun and relatable TikTok script on the challenges of working from home” or “Create an engaging tweet about the latest tech trends.”

6. “Do everything for me.”

AI is a tool, not a magic button that does everything for you. Asking it to “do everything” without clear parameters or context will likely result in an incoherent or incomplete response. AI is best used as a helpful assistant that can give you a head start, but you’ll need to take the reins to guide the process.

Better approach: Break down the tasks you need help with and be clear about what you’re asking for. For example, “Write an outline for a blog post about AI in education” or “Generate ideas for a YouTube video about the impact of AI on job markets.”

7. “Can you make this sound perfect?”

Seeking “perfection” can sometimes lead to overly polished, formulaic, or unnatural responses. AI often generates content that’s grammatically correct but may lack the nuance, personality, or depth you’re aiming for.

Better approach: Focus on clarity and impact. For example, “Can you rewrite this paragraph to sound more professional?” or “Can you improve this sentence to make it more engaging for a young audience?”

Why This Matters

Knowing what not to say in AI prompts is just as important as knowing how to ask the right questions. Your input shapes the AI’s output. Understanding how to phrase your prompts more effectively will save you time and lead to better, more accurate, and relevant answers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being too vague: AI works best when given specific guidance.
• Using confusing or contradictory instructions: The more straightforward you are, the better the output.
• Not setting parameters: Be clear about what you need (tone, style, length) to avoid generic responses.
• Asking for impossible tasks: Understand that AI is a tool and has limitations.

Expert’s Advice

AI expert and author of “AI for Everyone,” Dr. Emily Harris, suggests: “Think of AI as a conversation partner that can help you brainstorm ideas, structure your thoughts, and automate repetitive tasks. The more context and direction you give it, the more useful it will be.”

Takeaway

When working with AI, a little foresight goes a long way. By avoiding vague, unrealistic, or overly complicated prompts, you can guide the AI to deliver more useful, insightful, and creative responses. The key is clarity and specificity—if you ask smart, direct questions, you’ll get smarter, more useful answers. So, the next time you interact with a chatbot or AI assistant, remember these tips, and you’ll unlock the full potential of AI technology.

In the world of AI, the way you phrase your prompts can make all the difference. Use these insights to improve your interactions with AI and enhance your productivity today!