Revealing the Real Power of Generative AI: Enhancing Output Quality with Thoughtful Considerations

In the realm of AI-assisted content generation, harnessing the true potential of generative AI demands more than just a click of a button, however tempting that might seem. To yield the highest quality output, a strategic approach involving specific considerations and directives is paramount for worthwhile results. Whether you're crafting a comprehensive report, designing a persuasive marketing message or drafting a highly professional email, the power and use of generative AI is unleashed when guided by a well-thought-out framework to guide its potential.

1. Directional Words: Paving the Path to Precision

Directional words act as guiding stars, if you like, illuminating the AI's path toward your specific intended outcome. The importance of keywords like "discuss," "compare," "design," or "evaluate" cannot be overstated. These cues help the AI ‘understand’ the desired action and shape its response accordingly. By utilising these directional words, you set a clear course for the AI to follow, resulting in a more focused and relevant output.

2. Specific Content-related Words: Painting a Vivid Picture

Precision is the heartbeat of effective communication as we all know. Therefore, this principle extends to generative AI. Rather than simply settling for generic phrases, infuse your prompts with specific content-related words. For instance, transforming "develop a webinar marketing message" into "create a marketing message to promote this online workshop for estate and premises managers and professionals" injects clarity and context into the instruction. This specificity empowers the AI to craft content tailored to your exact needs rather than an unsatisfactory approximation. I have been working with ChatGPT since November 2022 and the output has been transformed as I have learned to craft my prompts with far more precision.

3. Contextual Information: The More, the Merrier

Context is the cornerstone of relevance. In fact, it represents 99% or meaning. The same, of course, holds true for AI-generated content. Providing ample contextual information through limiting words enriches the output. Terms like "South East London" and "UK business leaders" narrow down the scope, ensuring that the AI produces content that resonates with your unique requirements. ?You won’t be surprised to note that the greater the context you offer, the more aligned the output becomes.

4. Acting Words: Directing the AI's Mindset

Infusing an "acting word" (sounds weird, I know) into your prompt guides the AI's ‘mindset’, focus or perspective in the most appropriate direction. By instructing the AI to "act like a PFI consultant" or any other persona relevant to your needs, you imbue the generated content with a specific perspective. That’s what we all need, something that resonates with us as individuals This targeted approach results in content that aligns with the desired frame of reference.

5. Audience Matters: Tailoring for Impact

Understanding your audience is a pivotal factor in content creation, and it holds true for AI-generated content as well. Specify the desired tone and style by including instructions like "write in a formal, third-person tone for a UK business audience." This guidance ensures that the output resonates with the intended readership, enhancing its impact and effectiveness.

6. Output Style: Defining the Aesthetic

Every piece of content carries a distinct style. AI-generated content is no exception. Outline the desired output style, whether it's an email, a LinkedIn post, bullet points, an annual report, or an article. Clearly articulating the particular style you have in mind enables the AI to craft content that aligns more seamlessly with your vision. Of course, it has its moments and therefore use whatever it has created as a v01. Do not cut, paste and go. It’s a shortcut to a starting point and requires (in my opinion at least) human intervention. For me it's much better to have a beginning rather than facing a blank page and that’s how I use generative AI – as a prompt rather than a finished product.

7. Backing Claims with Evidence: A Holistic Approach

In scenarios where evidence is essential to substantiate claims, direct the AI to "find references, evidence, or literature" with "in-text references" on you specified topic or area. This approach ensures AI not only generates insightful content but also supports it with credible sources, enhancing the overall quality and credibility of the output. Do check the sources though, really, I mean that……

Conclusion: Mastering the Symphony of Generative AI (give me strength!)

AI gave me this to end (face palm!) “Generative AI is akin to a musical instrument – it can only create harmonious melodies when guided with skill and experience. By weaving these considerations into your prompts, you orchestrate a symphony of AI-generated content that resonates, informs, and captivates.” You see? It needs work. This is my quick version:

Generative AI will not create the ‘perfect’ response alone. Just like a violin needs a musician’s skill, dedication and artistry to create something harmonious, AI is not different. If you bear this in mind when using Chat GPT, for example, then you can teach it to handle your requests effectively and start to generate outputs that will help you create useful, meaningful and pertinent content….not just more content for its own sake. The journey from direction to execution is a collaboration, one where your strategic cues and the AI's capabilities enmesh to produce content something meaningful. It is not a tool to leave to its own devices but that comment dear reader takes me onto another very different type of article.

Vivienne Neale is a writer, marketer and Business Development Manager at Reappraise Consulting Ltd.