Building a Prompt to Improve Your Thinking:
Building a Prompt to Improve Your Thinking:
An AI How-To for Dummies
Introduction:
Hello, fellow explorers of the strange things that grab my attention. Here's a straightforward guide on how I built a prompt for my personal Artificial Intelligence assistant (I call him Al, short for Alfred - as in Batman's friend, confidante, and butler). Have you ever wondered how to coax the best out of an AI? Well, buckle up, because today we're diving into the fascinating world of prompt engineering.
Don’t worry; we’ll keep it simple because complicated is the fastest way to go wrong. Think of this as a good starter template.
Step 1: Define Your Core Idea
First things first, you need to have an idea. What do you need the AI to do? State the idea as clearly as possible.
It doesn’t need to be grandiose; it could be anything you want to explore. Let’s say you want to explore the belief that wearing a hijab is bad for a person. Now, if you’re thinking, “Why would I want to question that? It's obvious," stick around – it’s all part of teaching the AI to think critically.
Example Belief: "Wearing a hijab is bad for a person."
Step 2: Expand on the Idea
Next, we expand on this belief. We’ll explain why some might think it’s true. This is where you put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and start digging.
Expansion: Some argue it restricts freedom and imposes gender roles. Sounds like a big deal, right? But hold on, we’re just getting started.
Step 3: Break It Down
Now, let’s break this idea into its key components. Imagine you’re disassembling a Lego model – what are the blocks that make up this belief?
Components: Freedom restriction, gender roles, social pressure. Yep, it’s that simple.
Step 4: Seek Counterexamples
Here’s where things get interesting. We start looking for situations where this belief might not hold true. Think of it like playing devil’s advocate but with a friendly AI sidekick.
Counterexamples:
Sun Protection: Prevents sunburn in sunny climates. (Who doesn’t love a good tan, but without the burn?)
Social Safety: Reduces danger in certain cultural contexts. (When in Rome… or, you know, any other place where it’s the norm.)
Personal Choice: Empowering for some women as an expression of faith. (Freedom to choose is also a kind of freedom.)
Step 5: Analyze Each Component
Here’s where you get to channel your inner scientist. Examine each component individually and see how the counterexamples affect them.
Analysis:
Freedom Restriction: What if it’s a personal choice?
Gender Roles: Could it also symbolize strength and identity?
Social Pressure: Is not wearing it riskier in some places?
Step 6: Update Your Understanding
Finally, we synthesize all our findings and update the belief. Think of it as giving your old belief a software update.
Example Belief: "Wearing a hijab is bad for a person."
Updated Belief: "Wearing a hijab has varied implications depending on context and individual choice. It can be both empowering and restrictive."
In other words, "It Depends," which in this case is a better and more nuanced answer. You might modify your own set of values to take the social context into account.
The Result: A Standalone Prompt for Naive Users
And voilà! We have a prompt that can guide anyone through the process of deconstructing beliefs.
Everything Below Is Part Of The Prompt Example:
Instructions for Users:
Copy and Paste: Cut and paste the entire prompt into the chat window of a ChatGPT 4.0 or better AI for best results.
Important Note: AI can make mistakes. Always check the results for accuracy and relevance.
Deconstructing Beliefs: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction:
This prompt helps you critically examine and update beliefs by exploring different perspectives and counterexamples.
Steps to Follow:
Define the Core Idea:
Clearly state the belief or idea you want to examine.
Example: "Wearing a hijab is bad for a person."
Expand on the Idea:
Explain why this belief is considered true.
Provide supporting arguments and evidence.
Example: Discuss perceived restrictions and cultural implications.
Identify Components:
Break down the belief into key components.
Example Components: Freedom restriction, gender roles, social pressure.
Seek Counterexamples:
Look for situations where the belief may not hold true.
Provide counterexamples.
Example: Sun protection, social safety, personal choice.
Analyze Each Component:
Examine the validity of each component individually.
Assess the impact of counterexamples on the overall belief.
Example: Explore how wearing a hijab can be empowering or restrictive.
Update Understanding:
Synthesize your findings to update the belief or statement.
Formulate a revised understanding based on your analysis.
Example: "Wearing a hijab has varied implications depending on context and individual choice. It can be both empowering and restrictive."
Conclusion:
By following these steps, you can develop a more nuanced and updated understanding of beliefs. Use this process to critically examine various ideas and improve your thinking.
Conclusion:
And there you have it! A simple and hopefully enlightening guide to building a new prompt to challenge any sort of idea. So next time you find yourself in a philosophical debate or just curious about a belief, you know how to deconstruct it like a pro.
Special Thanks: Big thanks to Al, my ChatGPT AI assistant, for helping me make this post clearer and more engaging. Extra special thanks to Donna, my editor, for keeping the whole thing real.