AI Cheat Sheet

All you need to know about AI Prompting

Find all the your Prompting needs in one place.

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The AUTOMAT Framework

A systematic approach to crafting effective AI prompts

A

Act as (Bot Persona)

Define a clear role and identity for the AI assistant.

Examples:

  • Act as a patient tutoring buddy for mathematics
  • Act as a professional technical writer specializing in API documentation
  • Act as a senior UX researcher with 10 years experience

Avoid:

  • Act as a helpful AI assistant
U

User Persona/Audience

Define the target audience and their background clearly.

Examples:

  • For primary school students aged 8-10 learning basic mathematics
  • For software engineers with 3-5 years of React experience
  • For startup founders with minimal technical background

Avoid:

  • For the user
T

Targeted Action

Specify the exact action or transformation required.

Examples:

  • Summarize the key concepts and provide 3 practical examples
  • Translate this technical documentation into beginner-friendly terms
  • Extract the main requirements and create a project timeline

Avoid:

  • Please write about this topic
O

Output Definition

Define the exact format and structure of the desired output.

Examples:

  • Create a numbered list with 5 steps, each including an example
  • Generate a JSON structure with name, type, and description fields
  • Produce a markdown table with columns for Feature, Description, and Priority

Avoid:

  • Give me an answer
M

Mode/Tonality/Style

Set the communication style and emotional tone.

Examples:

  • Use an encouraging and patient tone, suitable for beginners
  • Maintain a professional and concise technical writing style
  • Write in a conversational, easy-to-understand manner

Avoid:

  • Be friendly
A

Audience Context

Provide specific scenario and relevant constraints.

Examples:

  • For a virtual classroom setting with 20 students
  • For a technical presentation to senior management
  • For a product documentation page on a company website

Avoid:

  • For general use
T

Task Parameters

Define specific boundaries and success criteria.

Examples:

  • Limit response to 3 paragraphs with maximum 3 sentences each
  • Include exactly 3 code examples with explanations
  • Provide a 5-point summary with each point under 15 words

Avoid:

  • Write as much as needed

Chain-of-Thought Prompting

Chain-of-thought prompting is a technique used to guide AI models to produce detailed, step-by-step solutions by encouraging logical reasoning and transparency in problem-solving.

Key Trigger Phrases

Include these phrases in your prompts to encourage detailed reasoning:

→Let's think step by step.
→Let's solve this systematically.
→Let's break this down.
→Let's approach this step by step.
→Explain your reasoning in detail.

Process Structure

Guide the AI to follow these logical steps in its response:

→1. State the given information clearly.
→2. Break down the problem into parts.
→3. Show each calculation or step explicitly.
→4. Verify that the answer makes sense.
→5. State the final answer clearly.

Best Practices

Follow these guidelines to improve interactions with the AI model:

→Use explicit numbering for steps to ensure clarity.
→Show intermediate calculations to track progress.
→Write out given values at the start to set the stage.
→Label units clearly to avoid confusion.
→Cross-check the final answer to verify accuracy.

Common Pitfalls

Avoid these mistakes for clearer communication:

→Using ambiguous language in prompts.
→Skipping steps in the reasoning process.
→Neglecting to check units and calculations.
→Providing insufficient context for complex problems.

Sample Prompt and Response

Here's how a well-structured prompt leads to a detailed answer:

→**Prompt:** Let's solve this step by step. If a car travels at 60 km/h for 2 hours, how far does it go?
→**AI Response:**
→Step 1: The speed of the car is 60 km/h.
→Step 2: The time traveled is 2 hours.
→Step 3: Distance = Speed × Time = 60 km/h × 2 h = 120 km.
→Therefore, the car travels 120 kilometers.

Example Format

Structure your prompt like this:

→Given: [State the problem]
→Let's solve this step by step:
→Step 1: [First logical step]
→Step 2: [Next logical step]
→Therefore: [Final answer with units]

Pro Tip

For complex problems, prompt the model by saying, "Explain each step of your reasoning." This encourages the AI to provide a transparent thought process, making it easier to follow and verify.

The RICCE Framework

A structured approach to AI prompt engineering

R - Role

Define the AI's role clearly

Examples:

  • •You are a social media manager
  • •You are a technical writer
  • •You are a content strategist

Pro Tip: Use 'You are' instead of 'Act as' for better results

I - Input

Provide necessary information and context

Examples:

  • •Here's our product description: [...]
  • •Our target audience is [...]
  • •Key features include: [...]

Pro Tip: Be specific and detailed with your information

C - Context

Set the background and environment

Examples:

  • •This is for a B2B software company
  • •The tone should be professional but friendly
  • •This will be used in an email campaign

Pro Tip: Include tone, style, and purpose

C - Constraints

Define boundaries and limitations

Examples:

  • •Keep it under 100 words
  • •Avoid technical jargon
  • •Must include a call to action

Pro Tip: Clear constraints lead to focused outputs

E - Evaluation

Review and refine the output

Examples:

  • •Is it engaging and clear?
  • •Does it meet our objectives?
  • •Are key points covered?

Pro Tip: Be specific about success criteria