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Hey there, tech survivors and curious clickers! I’m Mal—the Misfit Master of AI, or just Mal if you prefer less awkward nicknames. Welcome to “I am GPTed,” where I give you practical AI tips with just the right amount of sarcasm and accidental humility. Because let’s face it, if anyone was ever going to get roasted by a chatbot, it’s me.

Today, we’re diving into one prompting technique that actually makes these chatbots sound less like confused robots and more like helpful assistants. Most people just blurt out, “Summarize this for me.” But if you want an answer with a pulse, try assigning the AI a *role* and giving it context. I call this the “Don’t-Be-Shy, Give-Me-Details” move.

Here’s a before-and-after for you.

Before:
*Summarize this article.*

After:
*You are a travel journalist with a passion for quirky destinations. Write a fun, approachable summary of this article so my friend actually reads it.*

Notice the difference? The first one gets you a Wikipedia entry. The second? Suddenly it’s like your adventurous friend is texting you tips, minus the unsolicited vacation photos.

Now, for an actual use case—let’s talk personal shopping assistants. Ever spent thirty minutes online looking for a vegan, gluten-free, dinosaur-shaped birthday cake? (Yes, it’s oddly specific. No, this isn’t autobiographical. Probably.) Try this:

"You're a creative baker and party planner for kids. Suggest five options for a vegan, gluten-free, dinosaur-themed cake I could order or make, and include links if possible."

Boom: you’ve got options faster than you can say “Jurassic carbs.”

Let’s discuss beginner mistakes. Trust me, I have a closet full. The classic? Being *way* too vague. Early on I’d type, “Give me meal ideas.” And then be shocked when I got “Chicken. Salad. Pasta.” I mean, technically not wrong, but also incredibly unhelpful. If you don’t give parameters, the AI will swing for the blandest fences possible. Now, I always add context—like "quick meals, under 30 minutes, for someone who can burn water."

Time for a quick exercise—think of a daily annoyance, like figuring out what to say in a birthday card. Ask the AI as if it’s a professional card writer. For example:

“You are a witty greeting card writer. Write three birthday card messages for my friend who hates their birthday but loves dad jokes.”

Try it now. Don’t worry, the only embarrassment is between you and your screen.

Before we wrap, here’s a tip for checking those funky, too-good-to-be-true AI answers: **ask the bot to fact-check itself** or summarize its main points at the end. If it lists out five benefits of eating only pizza and you’re not in college anymore—maybe reconsider. Or, use that built-in critical thinking: Does what it’s saying sound like reality… or like a Silicon Valley fever dream from 2016?

You’ve survived another round with Mal, your Misfit Master of AI. If you got even one snarky spark of insight today, subscribe to “I am GPTed” wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for listening! Remember—Quiet Please productions made this possible, so head to quietplease.ai to learn more, get tips, or see how many times I’ve humiliated myself with auto-correct.

Catch you on the next glitch—er, I mean, episode! [Outro music swells and fades]

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI