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Unlock AI Superpower: Master Role Prompting for Instant Communication Wins
[Upbeat jingle fades in]
MAL:
Welcome back to "I am GPTed"—the only podcast where even the host is still louder than the AI... and that's saying something. I’m Mal, your Misfit Master of AI, former card-carrying tech skeptic turned accidental digital sorcerer. Today, I'm dishing out practical AI advice for all you bright-eyed prompt wranglers—and yes, the sarcasm comes at no extra charge.
Let’s get straight into it:
Today’s *magic trick* is called **role prompting**. No, it's not improv theater, but hear me out. Instead of just asking, “Write me a meeting summary,” you *tell* the AI who to be. Try “Act as my super-busy executive assistant trained in ruthless efficiency—summarize this meeting for someone who only cares about actions.” Instant upgrade.
Here’s my before-and-after for you:
- Before:
“Summarize this meeting.”
- After, with role prompting:
“Act as my no-nonsense executive assistant. Give me only the action items from this meeting and skip the fluff.”
The AI goes from rambling intern to seasoned pro. I wish it worked on my teenage nephew, but I digress.
Now, *where can you use this in real life*? Here’s one I stumbled into:
Ever written a review or testimonial and gotten stuck? Try: “Act as a happy, but concise, customer who liked the service but hates writing reviews. Write me three lines for my testimonial.” Suddenly, it nails your voice *and* your enthusiasm—or your lack thereof. That’s multitasking I can respect.
Let’s talk about a *classic* beginner mistake—one I made so many times, I should have earned frequent-flyer miles. The mistake?
Being way too vague. My original prompts? “Write me a bio.” AI would spit out something so generic, my own mother wouldn’t recognize it. I finally learned: **specificity is the name of the game**.
So—don’t just say “Write a bio.” Say “Act as a witty LinkedIn coach. Write a two-sentence bio that mentions my background in teaching and my passion for sock puppets.”
Thank me later. Or don’t. I can take it—I’ve seen my own report cards.
Here’s a dead-simple exercise to sharpen your skills:
Every time you ask AI for something this week, add a role. “Act as a chef,” “Act as a project manager,” “Act as my personal cheerleader.” Then, tweak it. Which role gives you the results you actually like? It's extreme makeover: AI edition.
Final tip:
Evaluate before you celebrate. Read the AI’s output with fresh eyes. Ask yourself, “If I handed this to my boss—or my cat—would they be confused or impressed?” If you’re not sure, refine the prompt. Seriously, even professional AI users do this. If someone says they don’t, they’re lying or they’re my former self.
Before I go, quick personal story: I used to think “prompt engineering” was a fancy way to ask for help with your printer. I once told a chatbot, “Just fix it, please.” It tried to enroll me in a welding course. True story. Lesson learned: machines read minds about as well as my ex reads Ikea instructions.
Subscribe to "I am GPTed" wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Thanks for tuning in and letting an ex-skeptic talk at you for a bit. Remember, this has been a Quiet Please production—learn more at quietplease.ai. And if your next AI experiment is a mess, don’t worry. If I can get GPTed, so can you.
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Published on 2 weeks, 2 days ago