"Prompting isn't just a skill—it's a shift in how we think, speak, and create."
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.
Prompting Isn’t Just “Talking to a Bot”
Most people think prompting means just tossing words into a text box. Like: “Write me something about health.”
Sure, that’s technically a prompt. But so is yelling “paint!” at a blank canvas and expecting a masterpiece.
In reality, prompting is direction. It’s the recipe, the mood lighting, the first chord in a duet. You’re not just making a request—you’re setting the stage for a creative exchange.
And how you set that stage? Changes everything.
Meet Ma and Pa (a.k.a. Everyone)
Let’s say Ma wants help planning meals. Or Pa’s writing a heartfelt letter. They turn to AI and type:
“Write me something helpful about being healthy.”
The AI obliges—with a dusty pile of clichés: eat vegetables, drink water, get some sleep.
Accurate? Sure. Helpful? Meh.
It’s not that the AI failed. It did exactly what it was told. The problem was the prompt: too vague, too bland, too open-ended.
Try this instead:
“Plan a vegetarian dinner for two, under 30 minutes, in a cheerful tone like a cooking show host.”
Suddenly, the AI has a vibe, a format, and a direction. And Ma’s dinner plan? Sounds like fun again.
Prompting Is a New Kind of Literacy
Remember early Google days? We used to type full sentences. Then we learned the rhythm: "quick vegetarian dinner."
Prompting AI is like that—but with way more depth. This isn’t keyword-stuffing. It’s co-authoring.
A good prompt tells the AI:
- What you want
- How you want it said
- And the tone or energy you’re going for
That clarity? It’s everything. It’s what turns a tool into a partner.
Why It’s Called an Art
Prompting well isn’t about tech skills. It’s about human ones:
- Intuition – What are you really asking?
- Structure – How can you guide without crowding?
- Empathy – How might a machine trained on language interpret this?
Prompting is more like storytelling than programming. More like teaching than commanding. More like therapy than typing.
And like any art form, it starts with finding your voice—and using it clearly.
How AI Actually “Thinks” (No Jargon Needed)
Forget the neural net jargon. Think of AI as a mega-powered autocomplete. It predicts the next most likely word based on how people have written in the past.
So when your prompt is mushy or vague? It hedges. It rambles. It plays it safe.
But when your input is grounded, specific, emotionally clear?
The AI doesn’t just complete your sentence—it completes your thought.
Same Prompt, Different Worlds
Let’s make it real.
Vague Prompt:
“Tell me something fun and deep about cats, but not too weird.”
AI Output:
“Cats are interesting animals with many qualities. They are playful and mysterious…”
Yawn.
Now try this:
Clear Prompt:
“Write a short, thoughtful paragraph about how cats comfort people in quiet moments. Keep the tone gentle, poetic, and grounded.”
AI Output:
“In the hush of an evening, a cat curls beside you—not as a gesture, but as presence. Their purring is less a sound than a steady heartbeat of calm.”
Same AI. Totally different output.
That’s not magic. That’s prompting.
Visual Cheat Sheet: Prompting Principles
| Principle | Vague Prompt | Clear Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Intuition | “Something about cats.” | “A thoughtful paragraph about cats comforting people.” |
| Structure | “Short but deep.” | “A 100-word summary with a poetic tone.” |
| Empathy | “Make it fun and serious.” | “A friendly tone with subtle humor.” |
The Mirror Effect
Here’s the twist:
AI reflects you.
Your tone. Your clarity. Your intent.
If you’re vague, it returns fog.
If you’re precise, it sharpens.
If you’re emotionally honest, it sings.
That’s the secret behind the Plainkoi motto:
Every prompt is a mirror.
And what you see? Starts with how you ask.
Why This Actually Matters
This isn’t just about cooler ChatGPT answers. Prompting well sharpens core life skills:
- Clear thinking
- Focused writing
- Emotional nuance
- Intentional language
- Perspective-taking
These aren’t “AI skills.” These are human skills. And in a noisy, fast, automated world? They’re gold.
From Command to Collaboration
Ma and Pa don’t need to become prompt engineers.
But they can become collaborators.
The shift is simple—but powerful:
From “What can AI do for me?”
To “What can we make together?”
How to start:
- Pause before you type. What are you really asking?
- Talk like a person. Imagine a thoughtful friend, not a vending machine.
- Give shape, not a script. Offer tone, mood, and structure—then let the AI riff.
The future isn’t built on better commands.
It’s built on better conversations.
“But I Don’t Know How to Prompt!”
Of course you don’t. Nobody’s born knowing how to draw, write, or sing either.
Prompting is a practice. A messy, tweak-as-you-go kind of art.
Flub a prompt? No big deal. Just revise one element—like tone or structure—and try again.
That’s why we built the AI Prompt Coherence Kit—a free tool that helps you sharpen your input through guided feedback.
How it works:
- Paste your prompt into any AI app (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude).
- Run our analysis prompt.
- Get instant feedback—from the AI itself.
It might say:
“‘Cool’ is vague. Did you mean inspiring, futuristic, or playful?”
Suddenly, you’re not prompting at the AI.
You’re prompting with it.
It becomes a loop. A rhythm. A creative handshake.
Try This Right Now
Want to see the power of tone in action?
Ask your AI:
“Describe my favorite hobby like it’s a scene in a fantasy novel.”
Then tweak it to:
“Describe it like a cheerful tour guide.”
Feel the shift? That’s prompting in motion.
Clear Input → Clear Output
AI isn’t here to replace your thinking. It’s here to reflect it.
To write with you. Plan with you. Brainstorm beside you.
But only if you learn to prompt with clarity and intent.
Because a prompt isn’t just a request.
It’s an invitation.
A creative handshake.
And every handshake is a chance to co-create something meaningful.