In this post, weâll walk you through five practical, easy-to-apply tricks to get significantly better responses from AI tools like ChatGPT. These tips will help you save time, reduce frustration, and make the most of what AI can offerâwhether youâre using it for school, work, or personal projects.
1. Assign a Clear Personality to the AI
One of the most underrated features of AI chatbots is their ability to take on different personas. By assigning a specific personality or character to the AI, you can make the conversation more focused, engaging, and relevant to your needs.
For instance, if youâre writing a historical essay, you can ask ChatGPT to respond like a university history professor. If youâre building a business pitch, ask it to act like a startup founder or investor. This not only changes the tone but also helps frame the responses in a context you can relate to.
Example:
âAnswer this question as if youâre a senior UX designer with 10 years of experience working in fintech.â
2. Use Concrete Examples to Guide the Response
The more specific you are, the better the AI can assist you. When asking for helpâwhether itâs writing, coding, or planningâitâs often helpful to include examples. These examples give the AI a clear template or direction to follow.
Instead of saying âHelp me write a social media caption,â try:
âI want a caption for Instagram that sounds playful and promotes a new smoothie flavor. Hereâs an example of our past tone: âFresh, fruity, and made to move. Meet your new go-to snack.ââ
This gives the AI a style, voice, and purpose to work withâleading to stronger, more on-brand results.
3. Always Provide Context
Generic prompts lead to generic answers. One of the best ways to get accurate, relevant responses from AI is by adding context. Think about what the AI needs to know to answer your question well.
Instead of asking, âHow do I start a blog?â, you might say:
âIâm a freelance graphic designer looking to start a blog to attract clients. I have some writing experience but donât know much about SEO. What should I focus on first?â
Now the AI knows your goals, your background, and your pain pointsâand can tailor a response accordingly.
4. Be Clear About What You Donât Want
AI tools try to be helpful, which sometimes results in extra content you didnât ask forâlike overly formal language, unnecessary repetition, or promotional fluff. To prevent that, tell the AI exactly what to leave out.
If you want a response thatâs straight to the point, say so. If you hate technical jargon, let it know.
Example:
âWrite a brief summary of this report. Avoid buzzwords, donât mention marketing strategy, and keep it under 200 words.â
This approach keeps the AI focused and increases the chance youâll get the kind of answer you actually want.
5. Assign a Role to Shape the Response Style
This is similar to assigning a personality, but with a more practical twist. When you give AI a specific role, such as ânutritionist,â âsoftware engineer,â or âcareer coach,â it adjusts its tone, vocabulary, and depth of explanation to fit that role.
This is especially useful when youâre trying to learn something or need expert-level input without the fluff.
Example:
âAs a certified personal trainer, explain how a beginner should start strength training with no access to a gym.â
The AI now understands the expected voice, audience, and depth of informationâand can respond accordingly.
Happy learning!