Maximizing AI Assistant Effectiveness with Powerful Prompts

Summary: New AI models emerge weekly, but useful prompts are surprisingly stable. I’ve found nine versatile templates to be consistently useful after experimenting with hundreds. They work well even on the free versions of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot. Read on for the templates and tactics.

How to benefit from this post: Adapt these prompts as foundational formulas for getting help from your AI assistant. They’re customizable recipes rather than rigid scripts. Experiment with them. Improve them. Make them your own.

Each section below has a button that will take you to the full prompt template and an example. You can add comments to those prompt pages. Pick one for a current project to expand your command of AI. Iterate on it and share your results in a comment for others’ benefit.

1. Interview me 🎙️

Act as an experienced interviewer. Interview me thoughtfully and creatively about [topic /project /idea]…

Goal: Overcome a blank page

Use this when…

* You’re stuck battling writer's block

* Your thoughts are scattered

* You’re trying to crystallize abstract ideas

Tips:

* Specify how you want to be interviewed (e.g., "Ask one question at a time")

* Request follow-up questions that build on your previous answers

* Ask for a summary of your responses at the end to clarify your thinking

2. Help me edit ✍️

Act as an experienced editor. Please first slowly read and analyze the following text without rewriting it: [paste or upload text]. Then provide a numbered list of concise, specific, constructive observations to help me strengthen the piece by noting any of the following issues in my writing…

Goal: Polish your words

Use this when…

* You’re refining an important message

* You don’t have a friend or colleague to help with editing

* You want to strengthen an early draft before sharing it

Tips:

* Request specific feedback on common weaknesses like clichés; weak verbs; passive voice; awkward or confusing phrases; redundancy; run-on sentences; or issues with grammar, spelling or punctuation.

* Ask the AI not to change your text but to provide a numbered list of potential issues for you to address, along with concise explanations of the concern. That way it’s not making changes on your behalf. You remain in full control of the editing process and the language you choose.

* If you find yourself overwhelmed with editing suggestions, prompt your AI assistant to proceed like a patient editing coach progressing step-by-step, noting only one issue at a time.

3. Organize my rambling 🖊️

Please organize the following information into a clear, structured format: [paste or upload notes/ thoughts/ transcript]. Identify the main themes or categories, group related points together, and create a logical flow…

Goal: Structure messy materials

Use this when…

* You have disjointed thoughts needing structure

* Your meeting notes lack organization

* You've brainstormed ideas and need help categorizing them

Tips:

* Try different organizational frameworks (chronological, thematic, priority-based)

* Request specific formats like bullet points, numbered lists, or sections with headers

* Transform transcripts into actionable summaries with clear next steps in a format you customize

4. Push my thinking 🤔

Help me explore unusual, creative, unconventional approaches to [topic/ challenge/ issue]. First, briefly summarize what conventional wisdom typically suggests in this situation. Then, provide 5-7 surprising, unexpected, or innovative alternatives…

Goal: 10x your ideas

Use this when…

* You suspect your thinking is limited or conventional or you may have blind spots

* You’re aiming for exceptional — not satisfactory— work

* You’re open to new directions or radically distinct ideas

Tips:

* Ask specifically for "surprising, unusual, unexpected, or unconventional approaches"

* Request multiple options — 5-10 different possibilities to start. Then ask for even more ideas. The AI doesn’t tire, and it might be the 9th (or 17th) idea that finally resonates.

* Consider how elements of multiple responses might be combined

5. Help me plan 📆

Act as an expert project manager. I need to plan [project/ task/ event] with these constraints: [time/resources/ team composition/ other limitations]. My goal is to [desired outcome], and my working style is [preferences]. Please draft 3 possible structured plans…

Goal: Map out a day, a long-term goal, or a complex project.

Use this when…

* Tackling complex projects with multiple components

* Feeling overwhelmed by a task or deadline

* Needing an objective perspective on your approach

* Coordinating work across team members with different skills

Tips:

* Include specific constraints (time, resources, team composition)

* Mention your preferences and working style

* Specify the level of detail you need in the plan

* Ask for contingency options if certain approaches don't work

6. Help me understand 🧠

Act as a wonderful teacher and experienced explainer. I need help understanding [concept/ document/ idea] at a [beginner/ intermediate/ advanced] level. My background knowledge is [relevant context], and I need to understand this for [purpose]. Please explain this in clear, concise language…

Goal: Simplify something confusing.

Use this when…

* Grappling with complex or technical material

* Struggling with jargon, legal language, dense research, an exhausting PDF, or bureaucratic documentation

* Stuck trying to grasp a confusing point

* Trying to process complicated info while tired

Tips:

* Specify what format would help you understand (analogies, examples, summaries)

* Indicate your current knowledge level on the topic

* Upload any relevant files you have on hand

* Mention why you need to understand this (to explain to others, make a decision, etc.) because that may impact the nature of the response

* Specify a preferred explanation length or depth based on your need

7. Help me clarify 💎

Act as an expert in clear communication. I need to communicate about [topic] to [specific audience] through [medium: email/ presentation/ report]. Here's my current draft or thinking: [paste content or ideas]. Please help me clarify this message by identifying areas that might be confusing…

Goal: Strengthen how you’re communicating.

Use this when…

* Crafting important communications that need precision

* Struggling to articulate an idea concisely

* Preparing content for presentations or public sharing

* Wanting to ensure your message is clear to a specific audience

Tips:

* Provide details about your audience and their background

* Specify the communication medium (email, presentation, website)

* Indicate tone preferences (formal, casual, technical)

* Ask for multiple versions to compare different approaches

8. Help me make ⚡️

Act as a patient, detail-oriented instructor. I want to create [project/ item/ content] and need step-by-step guidance. My skill level is [beginner/ intermediate/ advanced], and I have access to these resources: [tools/ materials/ software]…

Goal: Get customized instructions for how to do something.

Use this when…

* Learning a new skill or process

* Experimenting with unfamiliar tools or techniques

* Seeking step-by-step guidance for a project

* Troubleshooting challenges in creative work

Tips:

* Use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot's voice mode if you need hands-free instructions

* Try ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode with video so the AI can see what you're working on

* Ask for adaptations if you don't have all the suggested materials

* Be cautious and skeptical at first when exploring a new skill area with AI assistance, because hallucinations do arise. When in doubt, double-check with a familiar reference link or fact-check with alternative research tools.

9. Help me find 🔎

I need to locate specific information about [topic] within [my docs/ online/ this database or field]. I'm looking for [exact details of what you're seeking] for the purpose of [how you'll use this information] …

Goal: Locate something buried in a document or somewhere online.

Use this when…

* You’re searching for specific points within lengthy documents

* You need targeted research on a particular topic

* You’re looking for connections across multiple sources

* You want to confirm the source of a data point

Tips:

* Unlike the other prompts in this post, this one works best with specialized AI tools. These include:

* NotebookLM, which looks only at your uploaded materials [read more].

* ChatGPT and Perplexity’s new “deep research” models, which provide citations.

* Consensus (example) and Elicit (example) can help you research and better understand a complex issue drawing on academic publications, and you can use a detailed query for more precision.

* Be as specific as possible about what you're looking for and why

* Request citations so you can verify the information independently

Power phrases to boost your prompts 🚀

Five simple phrases can strengthen the responses you get from nearly any AI query. Think of these as special ingredients for getting exceptional results from otherwise ordinary requests.

1. “Be surprising…” 😳

“Be surprising, unexpected, and unconventional in your approach” This phrase pushes the AI beyond conventional thinking, helping you discover innovative solutions you might never have considered otherwise.

2. “Be concise…” 😑

“Use concise, specific language and avoid technical jargon” This ensures responses are accessible and immediately useful rather than filled with complicated terminology or vague suggestions.

3. “Adopt my style” 💇

“Analyze the examples I've provided and match that style in your response” This helps the AI adapt to your preferred tone and format, creating more consistent and personalized interactions.

4. “Ask me…” 🙋

“Ask clarifying questions if you need more information to give me the best possible response” This transforms the interaction from a one-way request to a collaborative conversation, leading to more tailored and relevant answers.

5. “Do better…” 🤔

“Try again with a more detailed, nuanced response that specifically improves the [accuracy/depth/creativity] of your answer” This encourages iterative refinement, pushing the AI to elevate its initial response and deliver progressively better results tailored to your specific needs.

Bonus tip: Use ChatGPT or Claude to help you refine your prompts. As language engines, these AI tools excel at sharpening prompt wording.

What’s your reaction to this piece, or one of your go-to prompts? Drop a comment below to share👇