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Essential Prompt Hacks for AI Research

May 4, 2025

Lecture Notes: Essential Prompt Hacks for Deep AI Research

Introduction

  • Importance of deep research in AI models
  • Tools like Chat GPT's Deep Research Gemini enable comprehensive analysis with a single prompt
  • Quality of prompts affects depth, accuracy, and reliability
  • Introduction to 10 essential prompt hacks plus a bonus hack

Hack 1: Set a Clear Research Goal

  • Clearer questions result in sharper answers
  • Example of a bad prompt: "what are examples of AI failures?"
  • Improved prompt: "investigate why AI-driven turnaround strategies failed in large corporations post-2018 and identify core strategic missteps"
    • Focus on specific scenarios, time frames, and encourages critical thinking

Hack 2: Add Context, Constraints, and Keywords

  • AI performs better with defined boundaries
  • Refined prompt example includes:
    • Focus on Fortune 1000 companies undergoing digital transformation using AI
    • Sources limited to 2018-2025
    • Keywords: strategic misalignment, organizational resistance, AI overdependence, execution risk

Hack 3: Ask for Direct Quotes and Citations

  • Request direct quotes and APA citations
  • Boosts credibility and aids in fact-checking

Hack 4: Suggest an Output Format

  • Spend time to plan the desired report format
  • Example format: context and overview, case studies, causes of failure, key insights, recommendations, citations

Hack 5: Set the Role and Tone

  • Specify a professional role for tailored terminology
  • Example: "You are a strategy consultant with over 20 years of experience"
  • Tone affects depth and suitability for target audience

Hack 6: Encourage Critical Analysis

  • Prompt for evaluation of assumptions and decisions
  • Example language: "despite initial expectations, the results suggest..."

Hack 7: Focus on Depth Over Quantity

  • Encourage multi-dimensional insights
  • Example prompt: "For each company, go beyond surface-level outcomes"

Hack 8: Use Non-Textual Data

  • Include visuals, tables, and strategy maps in analysis
  • Prompts to interpret decision patterns and performance gaps

Hack 9: Use Existing Work

  • Enhance research by uploading existing documents or connecting to cloud storage

Hack 10: Iterative Refinement

  • Encourage refining prompts based on initial outputs
  • Utilize AI's capacity for iterative improvement

Bonus Hack: Pre-Research Prompt Refinement

  • Utilize other models to refine initial prompts
  • Use models for reasoning elements or general suggestions before deep research

Conclusion

  • Encouragement to apply hacks to improve deep research outcomes
  • Invitation for feedback and additional hacks in the comments

The lecture emphasizes the importance of clear, well-structured prompts in obtaining reliable and comprehensive results from AI tools during deep research. Each hack focuses on enhancing different aspects of the prompt to ensure thorough analysis and useful insights.

Full transcript