Introduction to AI Prompt Engineering
I don’t usually over hype myself, but in this article we’re going over the only formula you will ever need to master prompting on ChatGPT and Google Bard. So let’s get started. Hi friends, welcome back to the channel. If you’re new here, my name is Mouataz. I work full-time in tech, and a couple of months ago, I knew prompting was important but couldn’t understand why some prompts generated generic answers while others delivered exactly what I wanted.
Since then, I’ve spent hundreds of hours taking AI prompt engineering courses and applying everything in daily work. In this video, I’m sharing the six building blocks that make up a good prompt so you can consistently generate high-quality results.
The Six Components of Effective AI Prompt Engineering
First, it’s important to understand the six core components of a great prompt: task, context, exemplars, persona, format, and tone. There is also an order of importance. To show why, let’s use a simple example:
“I’m a 70kg male. Give me a three-month training program.”
The context comes first, followed by the task. If you provide only the task, you still get output. But if you provide only context, the tool won’t know what to do. So it’s mandatory to include a task, important to include context and exemplars, and helpful to add persona, format, and tone.
When writing prompts, run through this checklist so you provide just enough relevant info. You don’t need all six components every time, but understanding them allows you to master AI prompt engineering.
Task: Start With an Action Verb
Always begin your task with an action verb: generate, write, analyze, give, etc. Clearly define your outcome.
It could be simple (e.g., generating a training plan) or complex (e.g., analyzing data, extracting insights, and categorizing results).
Context: Provide Only Relevant Information
Context is often the hardest part because there’s endless information you could add. I use three questions to guide context:
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What is the user’s background?
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What does success look like?
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What environment or constraints exist?
Example:
“I’m a 70kg male looking to gain 5kg of muscle in three months. I can train twice a week for one hour. Create a training program.”
Give enough context to steer the AI — not overwhelm it. This is a key skill in AI prompt engineering.
Exemplars: Show Examples to Improve Results
Exemplars simply mean providing examples. Research shows including examples dramatically improves AI output.
Examples include:
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Better résumé bullet rewriting
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Using the STAR method for interview practice
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Referencing job descriptions to match tone and structure
You don’t always need examples, but relevant examples significantly improve quality.
Persona: Tell the AI Who to Be
Persona means describing who the AI should act as — a trainer, recruiter, HR manager, therapist, etc.
You can even reference well-known figures like Steve Jobs or Warren Buffett, or fictional characters like Batman. This helps the AI adopt the right expertise and voice.
Format: Visualize the Output Structure
Format determines how your result should look. Before writing, visualize the output: table, bullet points, email, markdown headings, code blocks, etc.
Example: “Output a table with columns: Original Feedback, Responsible Team, Priority.”
Formatting saves time and makes the final output immediately usable.
Tone: Choose the Voice and Style
Tone is simple — formal, casual, witty, enthusiastic, confident, friendly, etc. If you don’t know the right tone words, ask the AI for suggestions based on your situation.
Example:
“Write in a confident yet friendly tone using clear and concise language.”
Full Prompt Example
Here’s a comprehensive prompt using all six components:
“You are a senior product marketing manager at a major tech company (persona). You’ve just launched a new product that received 12,000 pre-orders — 200% above target (context). Write an email updating your boss (task). Include TL;DR, product background, business results, and thanks to the engineering team (format). Write in a confident yet friendly tone (tone).”
Compare that with a simpler prompt:
“I launched a new product and got 12,000 pre-orders. Write an email to my boss.”
The first prompt produces a far more professional, detailed, and useful output — the essence of strong AI prompt engineering.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Now that you understand the basics of AI prompt engineering, you’re ready to level up. My next article will take you from beginner to pro, so make sure you’re subscribed. Also check out my top ChatGPT productivity tips.
