Smarter Prompts, Smarter You: Outsmart AI One Prompt at a Time

Serah Rashidi (She/Her)
May 12
3 min read

Updated: May 13

Hey techies! Hard to believe it’s already been one year since I joined young4STEM as a technical writer and started the Techpulse Section . What. A. Year !

If you’ve been around since the beginning, you probably remember my first blog, “Chin Up: You’re Smarter Than AI and Yes, You Can Break Into Tech.”

Yep, that’s where it all began. From zero clue about programming at 17, to riding the COVID-era tech boom, and now? We’re going deeper.

Today we’re talking Prompt Engineering because whether you’re in tech or not, using AI smartly is the power skill of this decade.

So buckle up. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or completely clueless about AI prompts, this one's for you.

Overview of What’s Covered

So, what’s all this prompt engineering hype anyway? Yeah, I asked that too at first because it sounded like some fancy tech buzzword! But don’t worry, we’re unpacking it all here.

But before we even talk prompts, let’s rewind a second…

GPT & PROMPTS

GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is the model behind ChatGPT. Think of it like a super-advanced brain that’s trained on internet text and can now chat, code, write, explain, translate, design, you name it. It doesn’t think like you (no self-awareness), but it’s trained to mimic human conversation really, really well.

Now, what’s a prompt?

It’s just… the thing you tell GPT. Literally. A prompt is the input, the message you type.

Give me 5 Tech Books to Read about XAI

But here’s the twist: your results often depend on how you ask

What Makes a Good Prompt?

1- Clarity: No vague vibes. Say what you mean

✘ “Make something.”

✔ “Write a 100-word story about a lost robot in the USA.”

2- Specificity: More details result in more accurate responses

✘“Design a workout”

✔ “Design a 30-minute home workout for beginners with no equipment.”

3- Open-endedness: Leave space for creativity

✘ “Tell me about pizza”

✔ “What’s the wildest pizza combo ever served in New York?”

What is Prompt Engineering?

Many people mistake prompt engineering as just writing a bunch of words and forming a prompt when it's not quite that! Prompt engineering is an Art, It is the mix of Science and Art of talking to an AI to get the best results possible.

Just like us humans, when we practice public speaking, how to talk well, how to present well, and how to communicate, prompt engineering is that, but leveled up. The only difference is we’re actually communicating with an AI, whether it’s GPT or any AI model.

Usually you’re constantly Testing or Tweaking or Following up.

As if you’re leading a brainstorming session with a genius assistant who never gets tired and what does a brain storming session involve? Proper and clear communication with constant refinements.

Prompt Mistakes to Avoid

Overloading: Too much info? GPT might get lost.
Vagueness: “Make something cool.” Uh… what kind of cool?
Jargon-heavy nonsense: You’re not impressing anyone. Be clear.
Double-barreled prompts: Don’t ask for five things in one sentence. GPT will try, but it’ll mash stuff up.
No context at all: “Write a poem.” Okay... for who? About what? Why? You’ll get generic fluff.
Over-trusting the output: Don’t assume the first answer is golden. Review, tweak, follow up.
Skipping follow-ups: GPT thrives on dialogue. You don’t like the answer? Ask again but differently.
Being too polite: You’re not emailing a CEO. Be direct. Clarity over courtesy!

Final Thoughts

Your prompts are your bridge from curiosity to creativity.If used well, they will help you spark new ideas, make your life easier and expand beyond what’s possible.

But they don’t replace you. GPT doesn’t magically know what you want, it needs you to guide it, shape it, and prompt it.

Remember what we said in the first TechPulse blog ever ?

That whole "AI is going to take your job" fear? I said it then, and I’ll say it again now: AI is just a tool. It’s here to enhance what you do, not replace who you are.

Soft skills? Still yours. Creativity? Yours. Adaptability? Human thing

Remember if the Wi-Fi dies or the servers glitch? AI taps out But you don’t.

There’s no AI without humans. So lean into it and Learn to use it.

Don’t ever let a fear-based headline stop you from building your future in tech.

One year Later and guess what? You’re still smarter than AI

And with that, we reach the end of the blog. I hope you had a good read and learned a lot. Stay tuned as we'll cover more tech-related topics in future blogs .

Incase of any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to me via LinkedIn . I'm always open to fruitful discussions.🍏🦜