What is prompting in AI and how does it simplify communication?

Artificial Intelligence has advanced rapidly in recent years and is now embedded in many aspects of everyday life. A key element in directing AI systems is the use of prompts—specific inputs that shape how the AI responds and what outputs it produces.

What is a prompt?

A prompt is an input request that guides an artificial intelligence system by providing specific instructions or context. Prompts can be text, images, audio, or other data formats, and they strongly influence how the AI behaves. They act as the starting point for generating responses, content, or analyses. The clearer and more carefully designed a prompt is, the more accurate and relevant the results will be. In machine learning, prompts are used to intentionally shape a model’s output. They play a crucial role in human-machine interaction and help optimise the use of AI-powered systems.

Types of prompts

Prompts can be divided into different categories. The type of AI system you are working with determines which kind of prompt is most effective for producing meaningful results.

Text prompts

A text prompt is a written input that instructs a language model to deliver a specific answer or piece of information. It can be used for a wide range of purposes, including text generation, question answering, and data analysis. The quality of the output largely depends on the clarity and precision of the prompt.

Image prompts

An image prompt is a visual input that instructs AI to analyse, edit, or generate an image. It is commonly applied in image recognition, design tasks, or creative image generation. The AI interprets the visual data and produces an output according to the defined parameters.

Audio prompts

An audio prompt is an acoustic input used to process voice commands, music, or sounds. Voice assistants rely on audio prompts to recognise and respond to spoken instructions. They are crucial for applications such as voice control, transcription, and speech analysis.

What is the function of prompting in AI?

Prompts are central to the interaction between humans and artificial intelligence. They act as the interface that allows users to formulate clear requests and receive tailored responses or solutions. The quality of the output largely depends on how well the prompt is designed. Vague or imprecise prompts often result in inaccurate or unhelpful answers. Advanced AI models, such as Large Language Models, can interpret and process prompts effectively, but carefully structured inputs ensure maximum efficiency.

In practice, prompts are used to guide AI models directly, whether through clear questions or complex instructions. Well-optimised prompting can significantly improve the performance of generative AI, enabling faster delivery of accurate and relevant results. By shaping how computational resources are used, prompts influence both the efficiency and speed of AI responses. The development of prompt strategies and advanced prompt engineering makes it possible to control AI behaviour more precisely and adapt models more effectively to specific needs.

Examples of prompts in AI

Depending on the use case, prompts differ in form and function. Below you will find specific examples of different types of prompts and their possible applications.

Text prompts for text generation

Text prompts are particularly valuable when working with AI text generators to create content, answer questions, or summarise information. With well-crafted LLM prompts, the quality and relevance of AI outputs can be significantly improved.

• Example prompt: ‘Write a 200-word summary on the economic impacts of globalisation. Structure the text with a brief introduction, two main arguments, and a conclusion’.
• Explanation: This prompt sets a clear task (summary), defines a word count (200 words), and specifies a structure (introduction, two arguments, conclusion).

Another example is a prompt for creative text generation:

• Example prompt: ‘Create a short story in the science fiction genre about a future where artificial intelligence rules the Earth. Use an exciting narrative style and a surprising twist’.
• Explanation: This prompt defines the genre (science fiction), the theme (AI rules the Earth), and the style (exciting with a twist).

Image prompts for image generation

AI-based image generators like DALL·E or Midjourney use image prompts to produce visuals from text descriptions.

• Example prompt: ‘Create a highly detailed illustration of a futuristic cityscape at night with hovering vehicles and neon lights in a cyberpunk style’.
• Explanation: This prompt defines the setting (futuristic cityscape), adds specific details (hovering vehicles, neon lights), and sets the style (cyberpunk).

Another example of an image prompt:

• Example prompt: ‘Generate a realistic portrait of a medieval knight in shining armour standing on a battlefield, with dramatic lighting’.
• Explanation: The prompt specifies the subject (medieval knight), the environment (battlefield, dramatic lighting), and the aesthetic (realistic).

Audio prompts for speech processing and recognition

Audio prompts are used in language models and voice assistants to process spoken commands or generate audio content.

• Example prompt for voice assistants: ‘Remind me to have a meeting with the marketing team tomorrow at 10:00 AM’.
• Explanation: The prompt is straightforward and contains all key details for the task (time, participants).

Prompts are also valuable in speech analysis:

• Example prompt for speech analysis: ‘Analyse this audio file and identify the language being spoken’.
• Explanation: This prompt clearly defines the type of task (speech analysis) and the expected outcome (language identification).

Prompts can even be applied to AI-generated speech:

• Example prompt for speech synthesis: ‘Generate a natural speech synthesis for the following message: ‘Welcome to our podcast on future technologies!’ with a warm and friendly voice’.
• Explanation: The prompt specifies the content of the output (‘Welcome…’), the tone (warm, friendly), and the intended use (podcast introduction).

How prompts are shaping the future of AI

The use of prompts started with simple commands for early computer programs and has advanced significantly alongside AI technology. Today, prompts are a core element of interacting with modern AI systems. In the future, prompt design will continue to improve, making communication with AI more natural and responsive. With the rise of multimodal AI models, it will also be possible to interact more flexibly and achieve increasingly precise results.