Your first AI conversation
Open with a useful welcome request
A useful first message names the artifact, audience, source material, constraints, and desired next step.
1Try it yourself
Chat playground
Yell your ask into the bubble
Try a clear ask — role, goal, and a couple of details. Guests get 2 live trial turns/day.
Your conversation appears here — like texting a very patient tutor.
2Learn the idea
Read
Before you type
See it
Role + task + context + format = clearer output
Mira needs a welcome message for a neighbourhood digital-skills workshop. “Write something welcoming” leaves the model to guess the audience, facts, and length.
She uses a five-part request:
Create: a 90-word workshop welcome email
For: registered adult beginners
Using: the confirmed details below
Constraints: plain language; no invented dates, facilities, or promises
Return: one draft plus any facts you still need
This is a starting specification, not a magic formula. The answer remains a draft.
Read
Misconception
“A longer prompt is a better prompt.” Length helps only when it adds relevant information. Repeated instructions and fictional roles can make the job harder to inspect.
Read
Guided practice
Improve this request: “Help me announce the workshop.” Add an artifact, audience, source boundary, and one constraint. Compare your version with Mira’s; different wording is fine if the job is testable.
Read
Independent transfer
Choose a harmless task from your week. Write a five-part first message. Before sending it, underline every fact the model would otherwise have to guess.
Go deeper
In the wild
See how this idea shows up as a product and a company — then come back to the lesson. Skills transfer across vendors.
Related lessons
Check your understanding
Page assessment
Answer from memory. Completion is saved from this evidence, not from opening the next page.
Which part of Mira’s request prevents the model from silently inventing venue details?
All responses are required.