The answer is “42”
In the novel, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, aliens build a supercomputer the size of a city and they assigned it a single task, to answer the Great Question of “Life, the Universe, and Everything.” After 7.5 million years, the descendants of the computer’s architects return for the answer, which they were surprised to learn is “42”.
They had the answer, what they didn’t understand was the question. Asking the right questions, those questions that will give you actionable, insightful answers, is a skill that must be learned. Now that Artificial Intelligence is becoming a reality, being able to ask AI the right questions is more important than ever.
The Rise of AI
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we work and live. AI is already being used in a wide variety of industries, from healthcare to finance to customer service. As AI becomes more sophisticated, there is a growing need for people who can understand and interact with these systems.
One of the most important roles in AI development is prompt engineering. Prompt engineers are responsible for creating the inputs or prompts that tell AI systems what to do. These prompts can be as simple as a question or as complex as a set of instructions. The better the prompt, the better the results from the AI system.
Prompt engineering is a relatively new field, but it is growing rapidly. As AI becomes more widespread, the demand for prompt engineers will only increase, and learning the basics will be a valuable skill for anyone.
What is prompt engineering?
Prompt engineering is the process of creating prompts that tell AI systems what to do. These prompts can be as simple as a question or as complex as a set of instructions. The better the prompt, the better the results from the AI system.
For example, a prompt engineer might create a prompt that tells an AI system to write a poem about love. The prompt might include specific instructions, such as the number of lines in the poem, the rhyme scheme, and the topic. The prompt engineer would then test the prompt to see how well the AI system performs.
“Prompt engineering is a new and emerging field in artificial intelligence that is quickly gaining popularity. By understanding how to prompt an AI model, you can get it to produce more accurate, relevant, and creative results.”
How to Get a Six-Figure Job as an AI Prompt Engineer, Time Magazine, April 14, 2023
How to get a start in prompt engineering
There are a number of ways for people to get their start in prompt engineering. These include:
- Taking online courses: There are a number of online courses that teach the basics of prompt engineering. These courses can be a great way to learn the fundamentals of the field.
- Participating in hackathons: Hackathons are events where people come together to build software. There are often hackathons that focus on AI, and these can be a great way to learn about prompt engineering and to network with other people who are interested in the field.
- Working on open source projects: There are a number of open source AI projects that need prompt engineers. Working on these projects is a great way to gain experience in prompt engineering and to contribute to the field.
Are certain professions at risk?
The rise of more capable AI and skilled prompt engineering will create new jobs, but could put some current business professions at risk. Professionals need to adapt and use these new tools to become more efficient and productive. Roles that may be impacted include:
- Technical writers: As AI systems become more sophisticated, they will be able to write documentation and training materials on their own. This could lead to a decline in the demand for technical writers.
- Trainers: As AI systems become more capable, they will be able to train people on how to use software and hardware products. This could lead to a decline in the demand for trainers.
- QA engineers: As AI systems become more robust, they will be able to find and fix problems on their own. This could lead to a decline in the demand for QA engineers.
What’s next?
Prompt engineering is a new and exciting field that is growing rapidly. As AI becomes more widespread, the demand for prompt engineers will only increase. This makes prompt engineering a great career choice for people who are interested in AI, and a great new skill set everyone should learn more about, regardless of their profession.
Overall, the rise of prompt engineering is a positive development for the future of AI. Prompt engineers will play a critical role in the development of AI models, and they will help to ensure that these models are used in a safe and responsible manner.