How To Write AI Prompts That Actually Work

I remember the first time I tried AI. I typed in a question, hit enter, and waited for something impressive. What I got back was generic, flat, and honestly not much better than a Google search. I didn’t get the hype… at all.

It wasn’t until I watched how other people were using it that I figured out what I was doing wrong. Knowing how to write AI prompts is the difference between getting a useless answer and getting one that’s actually useful and tailored to you. The tool works. The trick is knowing how to talk to it. Let’s break it down.

What Is an AI Prompt?

An AI prompt is simply the instruction or question you type into a tool like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude. Think of it like talking to someone very smart, very fast, and very literal. It only knows what you tell it.

Ask something vague, like “What are some good side dishes?” and you’ll get “rice” and “salad.” Helpful to no one.

Try this instead:

“You’re a home cook who loves bold flavours and no-fuss meals. Suggest five side dishes that pair well with grilled salmon. I want options that are quick to make and use common or in-season ingredients. No mayo and no oven.”

Now it sounds like someone who’s been in your kitchen.

What Makes an AI Prompt Work?

You don’t need to be tech savvy, you just need to be a little more specific. Most good AI prompts share the same three ingredients: a role, some context, and a clear ask.

1. Give It a Role

Start by telling the AI who it’s pretending to be. The more personality and context you give it, the better the results.

“You’re a seasoned financial advisor who explains things in plain language.”
“You’re a travel planner with 20 years experience who knows Europe inside and out.”
“Act like a professional organizer who helps busy families simplify their routines.”

2. Add Context

AI doesn’t know where you live, what you’re doing, or why you’re asking. Tell it.

Instead of: “Give me some dinner ideas.”

Try: “I need dinner ideas for tonight. I have two teenage boys who are always starving, I don’t want to go to the store, and I need something I can throw together in under 30 minutes. I have 2 lbs of chicken thighs to use up. No mushrooms.”

The more real-life detail you give, the more useful the answer.

3. Be Specific About What You Want Back

Tell it exactly what format you’re looking for. You wouldn’t walk into a coffee shop and say “give me a drink.”

“List the top ten ideas in bullet points”
“Summarize the pros and cons in plain language”
“Organize this into a table”
“Keep the answer under 200 words”

4. Let It Ask You the Questions

This is the AI prompting move most beginners don’t know about, and it’s the one I wish someone had told me sooner.

If you’re not sure what to ask, just tell the AI what you’re trying to figure out and ask it to guide you. Here’s an example:

Your prompt: “I need to buy a new car, but I don’t know a lot about cars and I’m overwhelmed by the options. Help guide my decision. Start by asking me a series of questions to understand my needs, lifestyle, and budget. The goal is to give me 3 personalized suggestions and explain why you chose them.”

What you’ll get back:

“Great, let’s narrow it down. A few questions to start:

What is your ideal budget range, and are you open to buying new or used?
Are you open to electric or hybrid, or do you want gas?
Will this mostly be used for commuting, road trips, errands, or a mix?
Do you prefer a car, SUV, or crossover?
How important are fuel efficiency, safety ratings, or tech features?
Do you live somewhere with harsh winters that would make AWD worth it?
How many passengers do you typically need to accommodate?
Any brands or features you know you want, or want to avoid?”

Now the pressure’s off. You just answer the questions. No more spending an hour Googling “best compact SUV under $40K.”

You can use this same approach for planning a trip, choosing a laptop, starting a garden, or designing a skincare routine. Start with a goal and let the AI figure out what it needs to help you get there.

And if the first answer isn’t quite right? Tell it. “That wasn’t what I was looking for, here’s why.” The best AI results usually come from a back-and-forth, not a single question.

5. Tell It to Remember You

This one’s relatively new, and it’s worth knowing about.

ChatGPT and Claude both have a setting that lets you save your preferences so you don’t have to re-explain yourself every single time. You can tell it things like your name, where you live, what tone you prefer, or any standing details that always apply.

In ChatGPT: Settings > Personalization > Memory, and toggle it on.

In Claude: Settings > Custom Instructions, and add whatever you’d like it to always know about you.

That’s it. Next time you open a conversation, it already knows the basics.

AI Prompt Examples: Before and After

Seeing the difference side by side is the fastest way to understand how to write AI prompts that actually deliver. Here’s what it looks like across a few everyday situations.

Travel planning:

Before: “Tell me the best travel tips.”
After: “We’re a couple in our 40s planning a road trip through France. Share practical travel tips for exploring countryside towns by car. We want to avoid tourist traps and stay flexible with our schedule. We’re not luxury travellers, but we’re not backpackers either. We like good, affordable food.”

The “after” version gave a three-page summary including gems like: book accommodations with free parking, eat at cafés just off the main square for better prices, keep a small cooler in the car for picnic lunches, and fill up on gas in towns instead of highway stations.

Health research:

Before: “What are the best supplements for me to take?”
After: “I’m a 45-year-old man dealing with low energy and muscle soreness. I generally have an active lifestyle. What are the most researched, safest supplements that can help with recovery and fatigue? Include potential side effects and recommended dosing. I am 5’10” and 170lbs.”

Learning something new:

Before: “What is a power of attorney?”
After: “You’re an estate lawyer who explains legal concepts in plain, everyday language. I’m a 58-year-old woman living in Ontario. I have a husband and an adult child. I want to understand what a power of attorney is, why I need one, and what happens if I don’t have one. I’m also considering setting one up for my aging mother. Explain the different types, what each one covers, and what I should be asking a lawyer before I sign anything.”

The pattern is the same every time: role, context, specific output. Give an AI prompt those three things and the results change fast.

AI Instead of Google?

The line between AI and search engines is blurring fast. ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude all have web search built in now, so you’re not just getting a generic answer based on training data; you’re getting a researched one. Google is still useful for quick lookups, but for anything that requires actual thinking and context, AI is faster and way more tailored.

Next time you’re about to Google something, try writing an AI prompt instead. But make it specific. For example:

Before: “RESP withdrawals”
After: “I started an RESP when my child was 8, they are now 17. The account has $60K in it. Explain how RESP withdrawals work in Canada when your child starts university. What are the tax implications, and what else should I keep in mind as the parent?”

You’ll get a real, personalized answer instead of a stack of links you have to sort through yourself.

Once it clicks, it really clicks. Role, context, specific ask. That’s the whole formula. You’ll get better results within your first few tries, and then wonder why you ever settled for the vague question and the generic answer.

For reference, the three most mainstream AI tools right now:

ChatGPT: chatgpt.com
Gemini: gemini.google.com
Claude: claude.ai

Drop a comment below. I want to hear your wins, your fails, and everything in between!

Interested in more AI for beginners content? Check out my previous article “AI for the Rest of Us: How to Use Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life”. Or view my “AI for Beginners” lessons; click here.

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