This will provide a brief introduction to
- Artificial Intelligence (AI),
- Chatbots,
- AI agents,
- Prompts and prompt engineering.
Whether you are just getting started or looking to sharpen your skills, this information helps lay the foundation for what you need to know to work smarter with today’s powerful AI tools.
What is AI, a Chatbot, and an AI Agent?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence—like learning, reasoning, problem-solving, or language understanding. It powers everything from recommendation engines like Netflix to GPS in cars.
A chatbot is a specific application of AI, designed to simulate conversation with users. Common examples of chatbots can be seen as chatbots on websites offering customer service or product assistance.
An AI agent goes a step further—it’s a system that not only interacts but can perform actions autonomously based on goals. Think of it as an intelligent assistant that can search the web, write emails, summarize documents, or schedule appointments—without needing constant supervision
Meet today’s famous AI Chat Assistants
Here’s a quick look at the top players in the AI chatbot space today:
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ChatGPT (OpenAI)—Best for creative writing, brainstorming, coding, and detailed answers. Its GPT-4 model is especially strong in structured thinking and nuanced text generation.
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Google Gemini (formerly Bard)—integrates deeply with Google search and productivity tools. Great for fact-checking, up-to-date info, and Google ecosystem workflows.
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Claude (Anthropic) – Known for being safe, helpful, and aligned. Excellent for summarizing, ethical reasoning, and long-form content analysis.
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Perplexity AI – Think of this as an AI-powered search engine. It’s ideal for quick, sourced answers with links, often blending the best of search and chat
For a more comprehensive list of AI chatbots, please refer to our list
Fundamentals of Writing Prompts
Want better answers from chatbots? Start with better questions. Here are the essentials of prompt engineering:
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Be Clear and Specific in writing your prompts.
Vague prompts = vague answers. Be direct about what you want.✅ “Write a 200-word summary of the novel ‘1984’ by George Orwell.”
❌ “Tell me about 1984.” -
Provide Context for explaining the prompt
Help the AI understand your needs. Add role-play or scenario framing.✅ “You are a nutritionist. Create a weekly high-protein meal plan for someone with diabetes.”
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Use Step-by-Step Instructions
Especially useful for complex or multi-part tasks.✅ “List 3 business ideas for freelancers. Then explain which is most scalable and why.”
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Refine your prompt and repeat if at first nessary
Don’t expect perfection the first time. Use follow-up prompts like:
“Make it more concise.”
“Add real-world examples.” -
Test Different Formats of presenting your query
Try bullet points, tables, or outlines for clarity, depending on the task and ask
Ineffective vs. Effective Prompts:
How to Get Better Results from AI
One of the most common reasons people get disappointing results from AI tools isn’t the model—it’s the way prompt was written. Let’s explore some ways to turn vague or generic prompts into powerful, purposeful instructions. It is best done by adding clarity, context, and structure to the question(s)
Examples of Ineffective and Effective Prompts
1. A query for Web Page SEO Content
❌ Ineffective Prompt:
“Write SEO content for my website.”
This is too broad—AI doesn’t know your business, target audience, keywords, or tone.
✅ Effective Prompt:
“Write a 500-word SEO-optimized homepage introduction for a (Toronto-based) digital marketing agency that specializes in local SEO for small businesses. Use keywords like ‘ (Toronto) SEO expert’, ‘local search optimization’, and ‘small business growth.'”
📘 2. A Request for Facebook Ad for a Book
❌ Ineffective Prompt:
“Write a Facebook ad for my book.”
That’s like saying “write something”—but about what? For whom?
✅ Effective Prompt:
“Create a Facebook ad copy (under 100 words) for a motivational self-help book titled ‘Unshakable You’, aimed at women aged 30-45 who want to rebuild confidence after life setbacks. Use an empowering tone and end with a call to action to download a free first chapter.”
🧠 3. For Writing a Non-Fiction Book
❌ Ineffective Prompt: “Help me write a non-fiction book.”
No topic, no structure, no audience—this won’t get you far.
✅ Effective Prompt:
“Outline a 10-chapter non-fiction book on ‘Financial Freedom for Creatives’. The target audience is freelance designers and writers in their 20s and 30s. The tone should be energetic, encouraging, and practical. Include tips, case studies, and action steps.”
✨ 4. For Writing a Fictional Short Story
❌ Ineffective Prompt: “Write a short story.”
AI can generate something, but it might feel generic or off-topic.
✅ Effective Prompt:
“Write a 1,000-word short story in the style of magical realism. The main character is a lonely baker in Istanbul who discovers he can bake people’s dreams into pastries. The theme is healing from grief.”
🎬 5. For Writing a Video Script
❌ Ineffective Prompt: “Write a video script.”
Again, the purpose, audience, and platform are missing.
✅ Effective Prompt:
“Write a 60-second YouTube Shorts script that introduces a quick productivity hack for remote workers. The tone should be energetic and informal. Include a hook in the first 5 seconds and end with a call to action to subscribe for more tips.”
🥘 6. Writing a Recipe Book
❌ Ineffective Prompt: “Help me write a recipe book.”
That’s a project, not a prompt. AI needs guidance.
✅ Effective Prompt:
“Create an outline for a beginner-friendly vegan recipe eBook called ‘Simple Plant-Based Meals for Busy People’. Include 5 sections: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts. Each recipe should use under 10 ingredients and include preparation time, cooking steps, and a tip for saving time.”
In summary …
You will often find AI’s response to be like a mirror, in that it reflects the clarity of your input. If your prompt is lazy, AI’s output will be too. But with a bit of structure and creativity in asking your questions, AI becomes a powerful co-creator that brings your ideas to life.