FundamentalsHands-on guide to optimizing prompts for AI ActionsUnlocking the full potential of AI Actions through effective prompt engineeringAI Actions is designed to extract valuable insights from articles quickly and efficiently. Crafting effective prompts is the key to getting the most out of this feature.In this guide, we’ll go through a real-world example of how to optimize a prompt used by one of our users. We’ll break down the process step-by-step, showing how to transform a good prompt into a great one that delivers more accurate and useful results.By the end of this guide, you’ll have practical strategies to:Structure your prompts for clarity and effectivenessAvoid common pitfalls that can confuse AI modelsEnhance the quality and relevance of your reportsTry Ai ActionsNote: For purposes of illustration, we focused these examples on cyber threat intelligence use cases. The general guidance can apply to other non-cybersecurity use cases as well.The power of working backwardBefore diving into the prompt analysis and optimization, let’s look at what the user wants to achieve (Figure 1). This approach of starting with the desired output and working backward is a powerful strategy in prompt engineering: by visualizing the desired output, we can more effectively craft a prompt to achieve it.Figure 1: The desired output, including the ‘Overall Score’ column with detailed breakdown This output includes:Categorization of vulnerabilities by severityDetailed information for each vulnerabilityAn Overall Score column with a breakdown of the score componentsNow that we know what we’re aiming for, we’ll examine the original prompt that was crafted to achieve this result.Original prompt analysisHere’s the original prompt used to generate the vulnerability brief:Figure 2: The original prompt used for generating a vulnerability briefStrengths of the original promptClearly defines the expected output (vulnerabilities brief with categorized severity levels)Provides a structured format for the output (table with specific columns)Includes instructions for calculating a custom “Temporal Score”Areas for improvementTerminology: The use of “Temporal Score” might cause confusion with existing cybersecurity metrics.Instruction order: The flow of instructions could be more logical and easier to follow.Text structure: Large blocks of text make the prompt harder to parse quickly.Calculation clarity: The method for calculating the overall score isn’t explicitly defined.Optimization processBy refining the prompt we will address these issues:Clarify terminology”Temporal Score” is an established cybersecurity term. Replace it with a more generic term like “Overall Score” to avoid confusion.Explanation: This change ensures that our custom metric is clearly distinguished from standard industry terminology.Restructure instructionsMove the calculation of the Overall Score to the beginning of the prompt.Explanation: This logical ordering helps the AI understand the full context before creating the final output.Improve readabilityBreak down long paragraphs into bullet points and numbered lists.Use clear headings and subheadings to organize information.Explanation: This structure makes the prompt easier to read and understand, both for the AI and for human users reviewing the prompt.Define calculations explicitlyClearly state the formula for the Overall Score: Sum of Recency, Exploitation Status, Patch Availability, and Impact Severity scores.Explanation: Explicit instructions reduce the chance of misinterpretation and ensure consistent results.Add step labelsIntroduce clear labels for each major step in the process (e.g. “Step 1: Calculate Overall Score”).Explanation: This helps break down the task into manageable chunks and makes the prompt’s structure more apparent.Optimized prompt breakdownHere’s our optimized prompt with explanations for each section:Figure 3: The optimized prompt with improved structure and clarityThe optimized prompt addresses the issues identified in the original version:Clear structure: The prompt is now organized into distinct steps, making it easier to follow.Explicit calculations: The overall score calculation is clearly defined at the beginning.Consistent formatting: Scoring guides are presented in a uniform, easy-to-read format.Logical flow: Instructions progress logically from data gathering to output generation.Precise output instructions: The final step clearly specifies how to present the results.These improvements enhance the prompt’s clarity, making it more effective for both the AI model and human users reviewing the prompt.A note on results presentationWhile our optimized prompt aims for the output in Figure 1, consider this alternative presentation:Figure 4: Revised results of the AI prompt including Overall Score and detailed calculations outside the tableThe advantages of this approach are:Enhanced readability: Presenting the detailed breakdown outside the table gives the AI more room to express its reasoning clearly.Improved explainability: This format allows for more detailed explanations of each score component, which can be crucial for understanding the rationale behind the overall score.Easier verification: With the breakdown separated from the table, it’s easier for analysts to verify the calculations and spot any potential inconsistencies.Flexibility: This approach provides flexibility in how much detail to include without compromising the table’s readability.While this presentation differs from the original request, it aims to explain how giving the AI more freedom in expressing its output can lead to more comprehensive and useful results. When implementing this in your own prompts, consider the trade-offs between a compact presentation and a detailed explanation based on your specific needs.Key TakeawaysUse clear, unambiguous terminology to avoid confusionStructure your prompt logically, with calculations and data gathering before output generationBreak down complex tasks into clearly labeled stepsUse bullet points, numbered lists, and tables to improve readabilityProvide explicit formulas and criteria for any calculationsInclude clear instructions for the desired output formatTest and iterate on your prompts to continually improve their effectivenessConclusionOptimizing the prompts for AI Actions is an iterative process that combines clear communication, logical structure, and an understanding of how AI models process information. By applying the techniques demonstrated in this guide, you can significantly enhance the quality and relevance of the insights you gather through AI Actions.Try AI ActionsSynthesize, translate, extract data, create reports, summarize, and more.Start Free Trial
Source: Internet Gov forum