By Mary Klett, ASA Communications Team

Artificial intelligence bots can draft reports, generate creative ideas, and answer complex questions—but only if they’re guided well. The key lies in setting clear parameters. Here are the most important settings, along with examples to illustrate weak versus strong prompts.

1. Define Clear Objectives

Vague: “Summarize this report.”
Better: “Summarize this report in three bullet points for executives, focusing on risks and financial impacts.”
? Specific goals lead to precise, usable results.

2. Control Tone and Style

Vague: “Write a thank you email.”
Better: “Write a professional but friendly email to a client, thanking them for their feedback and confirming we will deliver the revised draft by Friday.”
? Tone and style settings ensure output matches the audience.

3. Use Context and Constraints

Vague: “Describe [company name] safety helmet.”
Better: “Write a 200-word product description for our new safety helmet, highlighting durability and comfort. Use bullet points and avoid technical jargon.”
? Adding context and limits keeps responses relevant and structured.

4. Adjust Creativity (Temperature)

Low creativity: “Explain the process of equipment transport in factual steps.”
High creativity: “Brainstorm five imaginative taglines for a company specializing in dangerous equipment transport.”
? Set creativity low for accuracy, high for brainstorming.

5. Enable Memory or History (When Available)

Without memory: The bot treats each session as new, repeating explanations.
With memory: The bot recalls your brand voice, terminology, and past instructions, delivering consistent results over time.

6. Refine Through Iteration

First draft: “Write a blog post on construction safety.”
Refinement: “Expand the introduction to include why safety matters for small contractors. Cut jargon and keep sentences under 15 words.”
? Iteration transforms rough drafts into polished output.

Final Thought

AI bots aren’t magic—they’re collaborators. By defining objectives, setting tone, controlling creativity, and refining outputs, you’ll consistently unlock their best results. Think of it this way: the clearer your instructions, the closer the bot will come to being the teammate you wish you had.