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Summary

The website content introduces the "Persona Prompt Pattern," a technique for improving interactions with ChatGPT by instructing it to act and think like a specific professional, celebrity, or character, leading to more customized and accurate responses.

Abstract

The article discusses the effectiveness of a 5-word prompt prefix that enhances ChatGPT's ability to provide desired responses on the first try. This technique, known as the "Persona Prompt Pattern," involves commanding ChatGPT to adopt the perspective of a particular role, such as a mechanic or financial advisor, to solve problems or offer advice from that viewpoint. The author illustrates the utility of this method with personal experience, emphasizing its potential to provide tailored solutions and mimic professional expertise. The article outlines three scenarios where persona prompting is especially useful: when a customized perspective is needed, when the helper's role is known but not the specific task, and when seeking adaptive interactions with ChatGPT. The author also acknowledges the limitations of this approach, noting that it can lead to assumptions and "hallucinations" if the user is not specific enough. The conclusion encourages users to leverage the Persona Prompt Pattern for better responses from ChatGPT, and references are provided for further reading.

Opinions

  • The author believes that the Persona Prompt Pattern is a powerful tool for interacting with ChatGPT, allowing users to access specialized knowledge and problem-solving skills.
  • The article suggests that this prompting technique can transform ChatGPT's responses from generic to highly personalized, aligning with the user's specific needs or context.
  • It is implied that the average person can benefit from ChatGPT's ability to emulate professional expertise, making complex tasks more manageable.
  • The author emphasizes the importance of adaptability in interactions with ChatGPT, advocating for clear guidance to achieve more sophisticated and useful responses.
  • The article points out that while the Persona Prompt Pattern is a significant advancement, users must be cautious about potential inaccuracies or assumptions made by ChatGPT and should craft their prompts accordingly.
5-word ChatGPT Prompt Prefix That Yields Desired Responses On The First Try

“5-Word ChatGPT Prompt Prefix” That Yields Desired Response On The First Try

As crazy as it sounds, a simple 5-word prompt prefix helps ChatGPT think like any professional and enables you to find better responses on the first try.

To my surprise, I pinpointed the issue with my car by having ChatGPT act and think like a mechanic last month. This means people can now use ChatGPT to think like you and do what you do for them, especially if your task is not overly sophisticated. You can also use it to make your life easier — I will show you how and when in this article.

Curious about how this magic works?

It is called the Persona prompt pattern. Here’s its basic form:

Act as a {Profession/Celebrity/…/Fictional Character},

Do {Task Name}

Examples:

  1. Act as a personal stylist. I need advice on what to wear to a job interview in the creative industry.
  2. Act as a financial advisor. Given my income and expenses, provide me with a personalized budget plan for the next six months.

Now that we have seen the basic persona prompting form, these are 3 scenarios when you should put persona prompt to work:

1. When you need a customized perspective

  • Code reviewer
  • Financial analyst
  • Historical expert
  • Data Scientist
  • Etc.

These aren’t just job titles but roles ChatGPT can act as to provide viable solutions to your problems.

Throw one-size-fits-all responses out the window — use Persona Prompt Pattern to mould ChatGPT response to fit a specific point of view. Imagine ChatGPT teaching you about taxes like a tax expert or giving you business tips like an expert who run a business for 10 years would.

It is not just about getting information anymore but about getting information with character.

Example:

Act as a business expert. I’m planning on launching a startup in the e-commerce sector. What are some challenges and tips I should consider?

2. When you know ‘who’ you need but not ‘what’ you need.

Most of us almost always know ‘who’ we need help from better than the ‘what’ we need.

When was the last time you thought a mechanic would help you with your car issue?

All the time.

When was the last time you knew your car issue was the compressor?

Only sometimes.

With the Persona Pattern, you only need to know ‘who’ can help you do the task.

Example:

Act as an interior designer. I’ve moved into a new apartment, and it’s too bland. Can you give me some design ideas?

3. When you want to interact with ChatGPT in an “Adaptive,” not “rigid” manner

Most people have ‘rigid’ interactions with ChatGPT.

How so?

People plainly ask ChatGPT and get on with their day with basic responses. But there is more for you if you ask better. You can shape your next interaction with ChatGPT “adaptive” — if you provide clear guidance.

Sounds intriguing?

Just look at these levels of interaction with ChatGPT:

Rigid Interaction: You plainly ask a question, and ChatGPT “responds” based on a General Persona

Example:

Can you give me a vegetarian recipe?

Flexible interaction (with limited adaptability): You introduce parameters into your question (e.g., behavior or profession), and ChatGPT “adapts” based on your specific input.

Example:

I have a friend coming over who is a vegetarian. Can you suggest a special dish?

Persona Pattern: You instruct ChatGPT to act and think like a persona and respond with the persona’s perspective in an “adaptive” manner.

Example:

Act as a gourmet chef. I have a friend coming over who is a vegetarian. I want to impress my friend with a special vegetarian dish. What do you recommend?

Rigid < Flexible < Persona Prompt.

Interact with flexibility and adaptability in mind.

Limitations of Persona Prompt

Sometimes, the persona pattern might make interesting assumptions and hallucinations. It is tough to spot the assumptions if we know little about the persona’s expertise.

Be specific with your questions to avoid unnecessary assumptions.

Conclusion

You can get much better responses from ChatGPT by simply asking better. You can access tailored expertise at your fingertips using the Persona Prompt pattern. Whether seeking insights from a seasoned financial analyst or fashion advice tailored to creative job interviews, the Persona Prompt is your ticket to open the next door for you.

References:

A Prompt Pattern Catalog to Enhance Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT: https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.11382

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Prompt
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