Talking to AI is a lot like talking to a helpful coworker. The clearer you are, the better the results — but you don’t need to be formal, and you definitely don’t need a degree in computer science.
🧠 The Secret: Use a “Mission”
The biggest mistake people make is being too brief. To get great results, give the AI a “Mission” using our 4-Step Starter Template:
- The Situation: What is happening right now? (e.g., “I have a lot of leftovers but no time to cook.”)
- The Ask: What do you want the AI to do? (e.g., “Give me a 15-minute recipe.”)
- The Style: How should it sound? (e.g., “Keep it simple and kid-friendly.”)
- The Action: What do you want it to give you? (e.g., “A numbered list of steps.”)
You don’t need to memorize this — it’s just a handy pattern you can use whenever you want clearer results
🎯 Example: From Vague to Great
Instead of saying “Write an email,” try this:
“I’m heading out on vacation (Situation). Write a short email to my team (Ask). Keep it professional but lighthearted (Style). Give me three subject line options and the body text (Action).”
🔁 Iterate — Don’t Start Over
If the first answer isn’t perfect, just keep talking to it. You can say:
- “Shorter.”
- “More casual.”
- “Add an example.”
- “Rewrite this for a beginner.”
AI improves with each follow-up nudge, just like a real conversation.
🚀 Just Start Typing
Don’t worry about “perfect” prompts. AI meets you where you are. If you’re on your phone and your hands are full, you can even use Voice Mode to talk through your Mission out loud.