Sometimes you have thoughts in your head that just won’t move aside for a moment. For me, lately, it is all about prompt engineering—how humans communicate with bots to get information. I have just spent sometime discussing this at a roundtable sponsored by Canada’s Carleton University, devoted entirely to Artificial Intelligence.
I told the audience of journalism students, professors and journalists:
“We are in this profession because we are good with words. AI depends on words for our interaction with it. We should be the experts, the ones getting the best and most robust information every time we prompt the bots.”
Now a column in the Financial Times (June 9, 2024), with a headline that reads “Rise of AI creates an opening for those with language skills” , explains it best:
One unexpected consequence of AI is that its rise could revive demand for a liberal arts education. AI’s propensity for errors or hallucinations means an increase in demand for prompt engineers. They determine the best way to frame a question when interacting with AI-powered systems. This requires people with strong language and creative thinking skills. Like previous technologies, AI is creating new roles as well as revamping old ones.
Prompt engineering is the future
I agree totally with that statement. I envision entire courses devoted to prompt engineering—the art of communicating with the bots for best results.
I also imagine a full college major in prompt engineering. I have no doubt that this will become one of the most sought after skills for graduates in all fields.
And, of course, many how-to books will be devoted entirely to the subject.
In my own AI book, AI: The Next Revolution in Content Creation, I discuss the dance between humans and robots. I imagine the humans leading on the dance floor. To do so, the human must come prepared with as detailed and word-rich prompts as possible. The best use of AI is when the prompt includes the ideas, creative thinking and intentions of the human, what Jony Ive brilliantly refers to as “the biography of an idea”.
Ideas have what I call a moment of conception. It is that moment that must be included in a good prompt. It is what separates the humans from the bots. If the bot is our assistant, the crane that does the heavy lifting, then its contribution will be much greater if we come to the table with as much information as possible concerning our idea. The well explained idea of the inspired human will yield better results from the bot.
Jony Ive had a profound impact on Apple’s design philosophy and is celebrated for his contributions to many of Apple’s most iconic products. While he may not be directly linked to artificial intelligence, his design philosophy and insights into the creative process are highly influential. I encourage all to read more about Ive’s biography of an idea concept, which emphasizes the organic and unpredictable nature of the creative process. He viewed the development of a design or product as a journey, where ideas evolve through collaboration, iteration, and human input. The”biography of an idea,” is all about the life cycle of an idea, traced from its inception to its final form, reflecting the dynamic and often non-linear path of creativity.
As such, the prompt that the human writes is an integral part of the life cycle of the idea. The new dynamic in the path of creativity is this dance between human and bot.
Jony Ive’s concept of the “biography of an idea” revolves around the notion that the development of a creative idea is a dynamic, evolving process, much like the life story of a person. This concept highlights several key aspects of how ideas are nurtured and brought to fruition within a design-centric environment like Apple.
AI: The Next Revolution in Content Creation
My own AI book (see cover above), which was published in January 2024, includes a chapter devoted to Prompt Engineering. If I were writing the book today, I would expand that chapter to include more examples and case studies.
Better yet, I would consider writing a text totally devoted to prompt engineering.
Here are passages from my chapter on prompt engineering:
Some experts say that the power of prompt engineering lies in
the hands of those who express themselves best-exactly what is
said of people who succeed at job interviewing and essay writing
for college admissions. AI is primarily about language. It is about
words and how a string of them can create thoughts and light
up the path to an infinite amount of information, organized and
detailed quickly by the AI bot.
Tips and examples will make your prompts more detailed,
realistic and abundant with word clues that the bot can utilize.
AI: The Next Revolution in Content Creation, p. 183
IT’S ALL ABOUT THOSE WORDS. Unsophisticated, general
prompts yield less detailed responses. Obviously. “It is the old
principle of garbage in, garbage out,” says David Cohn, Chief
Strategy Officer and Co-founder, Subtext at Advance Publications.
“The mechanism to engage with AI is words. AI talks the language
we talk. It is as we are communicating with each other.
Cohn insists that AI will work best for people with a mastery of
language. “In fact,” he says, “computer coders have a disadvantage
when compared to journalists and a good, articulate journalist could
get better replies from ChatGPT.” In theory, if intelligently worded
prompts are key to good interaction with AI, it is possible that those
English majors may have great demand for their skills after all-in the
field of artificial intelligence!
AI: The Next Revolution in Content Creation, p. 186
Practicing with Prompt Engineering
While writing this blog, I turned to ChatGPT for ideas about prompt engineering. Here is my prompt:
Help me explain the significance of prompt engineering to journalism students. Offer me FIVE REASONS why prompt engineering is likely to become the most sought after skill in all fields of endeavor, and list FIVE TIPS to teach prompt engineering to journalism students. Be precise.
Here is what ChatGPT offered:
Significance of Prompt Engineering in Journalism
Prompt Engineering is crucial in journalism as it involves designing effective inputs (prompts) for AI systems to produce desired outputs. As AI becomes integral to content creation and data analysis, journalists must understand how to communicate with these systems effectively.
Why Prompt Engineering is Crucial in Journalism:
- Enhanced Content Creation: AI tools can generate articles, summaries, and reports quickly. Effective prompt engineering ensures these outputs are accurate and relevant.
- Data Analysis: Journalists often deal with large datasets. Prompt engineering allows them to extract meaningful insights efficiently.
- Personalization: Tailoring content to audience preferences can be optimized through precise prompts, enhancing reader engagement.
- Fact-Checking: AI can assist in verifying facts if guided correctly, reducing the spread of misinformation.
- Workflow Automation: Repetitive tasks can be automated, freeing up journalists to focus on in-depth reporting.
Reasons Why Prompt Engineering is Likely to Become the Most Sought-After Skill
- Ubiquity of AI Tools: As AI tools proliferate across various industries, the ability to use these tools effectively becomes essential.
- Cross-Disciplinary Applications: From healthcare to finance, prompt engineering applies to numerous fields, making it a versatile skill.
- Efficiency and Productivity: Properly engineered prompts can drastically improve the efficiency and productivity of workflows.
- Innovation and Creativity: Prompt engineering enables innovative uses of AI, fostering creativity in problem-solving.
- Competitive Edge: Mastery of prompt engineering can provide a significant competitive advantage in the job market.
Tips for Teaching Prompt Engineering to Journalism Students
- Start with Basics: Explain the fundamentals of how AI systems interpret prompts. Use simple, relatable examples to demonstrate the impact of different prompt structures.
- Hands-On Practice: Encourage students to experiment with AI tools. Provide various scenarios where they can practice crafting prompts and analyzing the outputs.
- Critical Thinking: Teach students to think critically about the outputs generated by AI. Emphasize the importance of accuracy and relevance in journalism.
- Iterative Learning: Prompt engineering is often about refining and iterating. Show students how to adjust their prompts based on the AI’s responses to achieve better results.
- Ethical Considerations: Discuss the ethical implications of AI in journalism. Ensure students understand the responsibility of using AI tools to maintain journalistic integrity.
Conclusion
Prompt engineering is a pivotal skill for future journalists, allowing them to harness the power of AI effectively. By understanding and mastering this skill, they can enhance their content creation, streamline workflows, and maintain high ethical standards. Teaching this skill involves a blend of foundational knowledge, practical application, critical analysis, iterative improvement, and ethical awareness.
Our workshop deals with the two big revolutions facing editors
For me, it is imperative that editors approach content creation thinking in terms of mobile first.
Mobile first involves the type of transformation where all content is prepared thinking from small to large platform. Thinking small platform does not mean that the reporter conceptualizing a story for mobile consumption should not think BIG. So, plan from small to large, but think big in terms of the story content and the visual assets that go with it.
While mobile first is still elusive to so many newsrooms around the planet, here we are, in 2024, faced with an even bigger challenge not just knocking at our doors, but already IN: Artificial Intelligence.
Transformation and a change of mentality to face these challenges is the first step. Training and education to tackle them with a sense of focus and direction is essential.
That’s where our Garcia Media workshops come in
Our Garcia Media Mobile Storytelling workshops introduce your editorial team to the way we write, edit and design for mobile platforms. This one-day program includes a presentation and a hands-on workshop. We’ve added a new segment about AI for content creation.
For details, to customize, and to book: mario@garciamedia.com
Order my new book AI: The Next Revolution for Content Creation:
Join me on the road:
Appearances and conference
https://linktr.ee/themarioblog (https://linktr.ee/themarioblog)
Mario’s AI speaking engagements coming up
Here you see where I will be discussing AI at various events. Feel free to send me an email (mario@garciamedia.com) if you have questions about any of these events. You can always go directly to the organization’s website for additional information.
Hoping to see you along the way!
Artificial Creative Intelligence blogs of interest:
The following blog posts all deal with Artificial Intelligence and creativity:
Media predictions for 2024
Every year, Harvard University’s Nieman Lab publishes what selected media people predict for journalism in the following years. You can find my own prediction here;
https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/12/ai-takes-center-stage/
Start writing or type / to choose a block
How we use AI
Honored to be mentioned here:
https://www.newsroomrobots.com/p/how-10-news-industry-leaders-use
Order my new AI book here:
https://thaneandprose.com/…/preorder-ai-what-to-expect…
Here is a chance to pre-order my new book about Artificial Intelligence and content creation. The first 25 copies sold will be signed! Order here:
https://thaneandprose.com/…/preorder-ai-what-to-expect…
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Newsrooms around the planet have gone mobile-first after a Garcia Media workshop!
Our Garcia Media Mobile Storytelling workshops are proven to introduce your editorial team to the way we write, edit and design for mobile platforms. It is a one-day program that involves a presentation (where I summarize my Columbia University class content), and follow it with a hands on workshop.
Did you read The Story yet?
I urge you to consult my latest book, The Story, a trilogy full of tips and explanations about mobile storytelling, which represents the latest genre for journalists to explore. See information below:
The full trilogy of The Story now available–3 books to guide you through a mobile first strategy. Whether you’re a reporter, editor, designer, publisher, corporate communicator, The Story is for you! https://amazon
Volume 1: Transformation
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-story-volume-i/id1480169411
Volume Two: Storytelling
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-story-volume-ii/id1484581220
Volume Three: Design
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-story-volume-iii/id1497049918
Order the print edition of The Story, from Amazon, here:
TheMarioBlog post #3393