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DevelopmentBeginner2020

Prompt

Prompt

A prompt is the question, instruction or information you give an AI.

Explained simply

A prompt is the question, instruction or information you give an AI.

1Instruction
→
2AI reads it
→
3Model responds
→
4Result

At a glance

Category
Development
Difficulty
Beginner
Introduced
2020

Real example

You type, “Summarise this report in five simple bullet points.”

Why it matters

The prompt strongly influences the quality and usefulness of the result.

Timeline

Origins

The ideas behind Prompt begin developing.

2020

Prompt becomes a recognised term or technique.

Wider use

Research and practical applications increase.

Modern AI

Prompt becomes connected to newer AI systems and products.

Today

Prompt remains relevant in the development area of AI.

Dates for broad concepts may describe the period when the idea emerged or became widely used, rather than one exact invention date.

Learn next

Continue with these connected terms:

Prompt EngineeringPrompt engineering is the practice of writing and improving instructions so an AI gives more useful results.→Context WindowA context window is the amount of information an AI model can consider at one time.→TokenA token is a small piece of text that an AI model reads or writes. It may be a word, part of a word or punctuation.→

Simple infographic

A quick visual way to understand Prompt.

1Instruction
→
2AI reads it
→
3Model responds
→
4Result
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