Prompt engineering has taken the generative AI world by storm. The job, which entails optimizing textual input to effectively communicate with large language models, has been hailed by World Economic Forum as the number one “job of the future” while Open AI CEO Sam Altman characterized it as an “amazingly high-leveraged skill.” Social media brims with a new wave of influencers showcasing “magic prompts” and pledging amazing outcomes.
AI Prompt Engineering Isn’t the Future
Asking the perfect question is less important than really understanding the problem you’re trying to solve.
June 06, 2023
HBR Staff; Bigmouse108/Getty Images, Olga Kurbatova/Getty Images; serts/Getty Images
Summary.
Despite the buzz surrounding it, the prominence of prompt engineering may be fleeting. A more enduring and adaptable skill will keep enabling us to harness the potential of generative AI? It is called problem formulation — the ability to identify, analyze, and delineate problems.
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Excel in a world that's being continually transformed by technology.