When using AI systems, what are some best practices for ensuring the results you receive are accurate, relevant, and aligned with your original goals?

Brainstorm and think through what you are looking to achieve. Try to envision variables, tangibles and specifics that meet your requirements and success criteria. Ask specific, detailed questions, and double-check your core tenants against reliable sources to ensure they are accurate. Naturally, different AI systems can sometimes require different approaches where your specific prompt might be best suited with a certain selected prompt engineering method. For instance, with a conversational AI like GPT-4, providing detailed context helps guide the conversation in the right direction.

On the other hand, consider using a predictive text AI, like those in email or messaging apps. Here, the system suggests words or phrases as you type. The more you use it and select its suggestions, the better it becomes at predicting what you want to say next. The more context and feedback you give these systems, the more aligned their responses will be with your original goals.

Know the tools in your toolbox, how they can help (not hinder). Another recommendation, ask the AI to cite their responses and add perspective.