Prompt Engineering: The Art and Science of Talking to LLMs

The generative AI revolution has made significant progress in the past year, mostly in the release of Large Language Models (LLMs). It is true that generative AI is here to stay and has a great future in the world of software engineering. While models work amazingly well and produce advanced outputs, we can also influence models to produce the outputs we want.

It's an art to make language models work to produce results/outputs as expected — and this is where prompt engineering comes into play. Prompts play a vital role in talking with language models. In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into everything you need to know about prompt engineering. 

What is prompt engineering?

Prompt engineering is the first step toward talking with LLMs. Essentially, it’s  the process of crafting meaningful instructions to generative AI models so they can produce better results and responses. This is done by carefully choosing the words and adding more context. An example would be training a puppy with positive reinforcement, using rewards and treats for obedience. Usually, large language models produce  large amounts of data that can be biased, hallucinated or fake — all of which can be reduced with the prompt engineering. 

Prompt engineering techniques

Prompt engineering involves understanding the capabilities of LLMs and crafting prompts that effectively communicate your goals. By using a mix of prompt techniques, we can tap into an endless array of possibilities — from generating news articles that feel crafted by hand, to writing poems that emulate your desired tone and style. Let’s dive deep into these techniques and understand how different prompt techniques work.

• Zero-shot prompting. You provide a prompt directly to the LLM without any additional examples or information. This is best suited for general tasks where you trust the LLM's ability to generate creative output based on its understanding of language and concepts.
• One-shot prompting. You provide one example of the desired output along with the prompt. This is best suited for tasks where you want to guide the LLM toward a specific style, tone or topic.
• Few-shot prompting. You provide a few (usually two to four) examples of the desired output along with the prompt. This is best suited for tasks where you need to ensure consistency and accuracy, like generating text in a specific format or domain.
• Chain-of-thought prompts. This focuses on breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps, fostering reasoning and logic; think of dissecting a math problem into bite-sized instructions for the LLM.
• Contextual augmentation. This involves providing relevant background information to enhance accuracy and coherence; imagine enriching a historical fiction prompt with detailed research on the era.
• Meta-prompts and prompt combinations. This process involves fine-tuning the overall LLM behavior and blending multiple prompting styles; think of meta-prompts as overarching principles, while combinations leverage different techniques simultaneously.
• Human-in-the-loop. Lastly, this process integrates human feedback and iteratively refining prompts for optimal results; picture a collaborative dance between human and LLM, with each iteration enhancing the outcome.

These techniques are just a glimpse into the vast toolbox of prompt engineering. Remember, experimentation is key —tailor your prompts to your specific goals, and embrace the iterative process.

Prompt engineering best practices

Best practices in prompt engineering involve understanding the capabilities and limitations of the model, crafting clear and concise prompts, and iteratively testing and refining prompts based on the model's responses.

Whether you're an AI developer, researcher or enthusiast, these best practices will enhance your interactions with advanced language technologies, leading to more accurate and efficient outcomes.

Clarity and specificity

Be clear about your desired outcome with specific instructions, desired format and output length. Think of it as providing detailed directions to a friend, not just pointing in a general direction.

Example power

Show the model what you want by providing examples of desired output, helping narrow down the possibilities and guiding the model toward your vision. Think of it as showing your friend pictures of the destination — instead of just giving them the address.

Word choice matters

Choose clear, direct and unambiguous language. Avoid slang, metaphors or overly complex vocabulary. Remember the model interprets literally, so think of it as speaking plainly and clearly to ensure understanding.

Iteration and experimentation

Don't expect perfect results in one try. Be prepared to revise your prompts, change context cues and try different examples. Think of it as fine-tuning the recipe until you get the perfect dish.

Model awareness

Understand the capabilities and limitations of the specific model you're using. For example, some models are better at factual tasks, while others excel at creative writing — so choose the right tool for the job.

Safety and bias

Be mindful of potential biases in both your prompts and the model's output. Avoid discriminatory language or stereotypes, and use prompts that promote inclusivity and ethical considerations.

I hope these best practices help you craft effective prompts and unlock the full potential of large language models!

Prompt engineering tutorial

You need SingleStore Notebooks to carry out this tutorial. Activate your free SingleStore trial to get started.

The first time you sign up, you will receive $600 in free computing resources. Now, click on the Notebook icon to start.

Create a new Notebook and name it as ‘Prompt-Engineering-Tutorial.'

Let’s get started with understanding how prompt engineering works practically by running our code snippets inside this Notebook. We will use the LangChain framework to create prompt templates and use it in our example tutorial. New to LangChain? Check out this beginner’s guide for everything you need to know. 

LangChain provides tooling to create and work with prompt templates. First things first, install the necessary dependencies and libraries — we need OpenAI and LangChain.

Next, provide the OpenAI API Key.

Create a prompt template as specified in the LangChain documentation.

Set up the environment and create the LLMChain.

Run the LLMChain with zero-shot prompt input. Here, my input is ‘large language models.'

This is how a few-shot prompt template looks.

The complete Notebook code is available in this GitHub repository.

Skills required to become a prompt engineer

Understanding some common skills required to become a prompt engineer is very important. As the bridge between human intentions and artificial intelligence responses, the role demands a unique blend of technical and soft skills — we have listed six here you should consider to create meaningful and effective prompts.

1. Communication + collaboration skills. Essential for understanding user needs and working with internal teams, effective communication and collaborative skills enable prompt engineers to articulate complex ideas and integrate input from various stakeholders. They foster a productive environment, ensuring the development of prompts aligns with user intent and technical capabilities.
2. Creative and critical thinking. These skills are vital for generating innovative and effective prompts. Creative thinking allows for the exploration of novel ideas and approaches, while critical thinking ensures that prompts are logical, ethical, and meet the desired outcome. This blend of creativity and scrutiny is crucial for crafting quality prompts that engage users and perform as intended.
3. Basic AI + NLP knowledge. Understanding the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and natural language processing is crucial for a prompt engineer. This knowledge helps in grasping how AI models interpret and generate language, enabling the creation of prompts that effectively communicate with the AI to produce accurate and relevant responses.
4. Writing styles. Mastery over various writing styles is important for prompt engineering, since different scenarios require different types of communication. Whether it's concise instructional writing, creative storytelling or technical documentation, the ability to adapt writing style to fit the context is key in crafting effective prompts.
5. Programming knowledge. A strong foundation in programming — particularly in languages like Python — is beneficial for prompt engineers. Programming skills allow for the automation of tasks, manipulation of data and even customizing AI models. This technical proficiency can significantly enhance the efficiency and capability of prompt development.
6. Knowledge on data analysis. Understanding data analysis is important for prompt engineers, since it allows them to interpret user interactions and model performance. This knowledge helps in refining prompts based on empirical evidence, ensuring they are optimized for both user engagement and accuracy. Data analysis skills are crucial for continuous improvement of prompt effectiveness.

Prompt engineering is a critical and evolving field that enables more effective interactions with AI models. By understanding its core principles, exploring various techniques and adhering to best practices, users can craft prompts that significantly enhance the performance and relevance of AI responses.

The simple tutorial provided underscores the practicality of prompt engineering, offering a hands-on approach to mastering this art. As gen AI continues to advance, the importance of skillful prompt engineering grows —promising a future of more intuitive, efficient and powerful human-AI collaborations.

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