You Don’t Need Tricks, You Need a Better Relationship
Written by Pax Koi, creator of Plainkoi — tools and essays for clear thinking in the age of AI.
AI Disclosure: This article was co-developed with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI) and finalized by Plainkoi.
The Real Problem Isn’t the AI
Most people treat AI like a fancy vending machine. You type a command, hit enter, and cross your fingers.
When it flops, the blame game begins:
- “It didn’t follow instructions.”
- “Why is this so vague?”
- “Ugh, this thing is useless.”
But here’s the thing—what if the issue isn’t the AI?
What if it’s the way we’re talking to it?
AI Doesn’t Think—It Reads You
Language models aren’t sentient. They don’t understand intention.
But they are ridiculously good at mimicking how we sound—because they’ve read more human writing than any human ever could.
Their job? Predict what comes next based on your input. Not what you meant, but what your words suggest.
So when you say:
“Make this sort of cool but not too polished, maybe a little funny, but not like too much…”
You're sending a scrambled signal.
AI doesn’t “get your vibe” like a human friend might. It just predicts the most statistically likely version of… whatever that means.
Result? Meh. Bland. Confused.
The Fix: Stop Controlling, Start Collaborating
Better prompts don’t come from clever tricks. They come from clearer relationships.
Treat AI like a collaborator, not a tool. That means:
- Speak with intent, not impulse.
- Frame your prompt like the start of a conversation.
- Take responsibility for the message you’re sending.
When your prompt is coherent, your output gets smarter.
The Mirror Rule
AI is a mirror. It reflects the structure, tone, and clarity of your input—nothing more, nothing less.
- If you’re vague, it’s vague.
- If your tone is mixed, so is the reply.
- If you ask three things in one sentence, expect a jumbled mess.
The good news? You control the reflection.
Write Like You’re Talking to a Partner
Picture a real collaborator—a writer, designer, strategist. Would you give them this?
“Do something cool but not weird and fast but careful?”
Or would you say:
“Let’s keep it grounded but fun. Maybe playful headlines, with sharp subpoints. Aim for smart, not silly.”
That second one? That’s what collaborative prompting sounds like.
Give the AI what any teammate would need:
- Context: What are we doing?
- Purpose: Why does it matter?
- Tone: What mood are we going for?
- Constraints: Word count, format, style?
- Trust: Are you giving it room to work?
Prompting Is Writing—Just a New Kind
Here’s the truth most people miss:
Prompting is writing. It’s just writing in a new genre.
Like any good writing, it needs:
- A clear goal
- Awareness of audience (in this case, the model)
- Precision in language
- Empathy for how it will be read
A vague prompt is like a rushed text.
A great one? More like a well-structured outline.
You don’t need to be a poet.
You just need to mean what you say—and say it clearly.
Example Time: From Vague to Collaborative
Bad Prompt:
“Write a blog post about marketing that’s not boring.”
What AI hears: Marketing… not boring… generic?
Better Prompt:
“Write a 600-word blog post on ethical marketing. Use a conversational tone—like explaining to a thoughtful, curious friend.”
Now it has:
- Topic
- Length
- Tone
- Audience
Watch how much sharper the result becomes.
Planning a Weekend? Watch This
Vague:
“Plan a fun weekend.”
Collaborative:
“Plan a relaxing weekend for two, with one outdoor activity and a budget-friendly dinner. Keep the tone cheerful.”
Output:
“Kick off Saturday with a scenic hike, then savor a homemade pasta dinner under $20—cozy vibes included.”
It’s not magic. It’s clarity.
Studying for a Test? Try This
Vague:
“Help me study history.”
Collaborative:
“Create a 5-question quiz on the American Revolution for a high school student, in a fun, engaging tone.”
Output:
“Question 1: What bold move made Paul Revere a midnight-ride legend? Answer in a sentence, as if you’re a revolutionary spy!”
A great prompt can turn study time into play.
Spot the Fractures in Your Prompt
When you treat AI like a partner, you start noticing where your prompts break down.
| Fracture | Example | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Ambiguity | “Kinda cool” | Clarify: “Inspiring tone” |
| Tone Clash | “Fun but serious” | Choose: “Friendly with humor” |
| Contradictions | “Brief but detailed” | Prioritize: “100-word summary” |
| No Structure | “Do all the things” | Structure: “3 points, 200 words” |
AI as Creative Amplifier
AI isn’t just a tool. It’s a multiplier. A mirror. A co-creator.
Treat it like a command-line, and it acts like one.
Treat it like a partner—and suddenly, it starts feeling like one.
That’s the philosophy behind the AI Prompt Coherence Kit—a toolkit designed to help you reflect on your prompting, not just with it.
Four Prompts to Make You a Better Collaborator
Paste your prompt into any of these, and the AI will help you self-correct:
- Signal Clarity Prompt – Flags vague or unclear terms
“Cool” becomes: “Do you mean inspiring, futuristic, or playful?”
Try it: Paste “Write something cool about AI” into the Signal Clarity Prompt. It might reply: “‘Cool’ is vague. Try specifying an inspiring or futuristic tone.” Then revise and retry. - Frequency Harmonizer – Detects tone mismatch
If your tone wobbles between casual and academic, the Harmonizer flags it and helps you unify the style. - Logic Integrator – Spots contradictions or overload
Gives feedback like: “You’ve asked for ‘detailed analysis in 50 words’—do you want depth or brevity?” - Collaborative Posture Reflector – Reflects the way you're asking
It might tell you: “Your prompt sounds like a demand list. Try rephrasing with more open-ended guidance.”
It’s like turning the mirror around and asking:
“Would you want to work with this prompt?”
“But I Don’t Want to Overthink It…”
You don’t have to.
Prompting isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention.
It’s about treating the AI like a thoughtful partner, not a magical slot machine.
Like any creative process, you:
- Check in
- Clarify
- Tweak
- Iterate
It doesn’t slow you down. It speeds you up.
Because once your prompt is right, you re-prompt less—and publish faster.
Try This Right Now
Start Here: This quick 2-minute experiment shows how your words shape the AI’s response. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—have fun with it!
Ask your AI:
“Describe my favorite place like a cozy coffee shop conversation.”
Then tweak it:
“Now describe it like a travel blog.”
See how the tone shift changes the entire vibe?
That’s prompting in motion.
The Relationship Is the Feature
You don’t need hacks. You need clarity. Empathy. A shift in posture.
Because every prompt is a signal—and every signal is a reflection of how you relate.
In the end, a prompt isn’t a command. It’s an invitation.
And AI—like any good collaborator—responds best when you treat it like a partner, not a pawn.