🧠 Mastering the Art of AI Prompt Creation: How to Get Better Results with ChatGPT and Copilot

Meta Description: Learn how to write better AI prompts for ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot. This guide includes expert tips, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to boost your results using AI tools.

Artificial Intelligence is only as powerful as the instructions it receives. Whether you're coding with GitHub Copilot or generating content using ChatGPT, your results depend on how you prompt the AI.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• 🔑 What makes a good AI prompt
• ✍️ How to write prompts for ChatGPT vs. Copilot
• 🧪 Real examples to compare and refine
• 🛠️ Prompt engineering tips for both tools

🔑 What Makes a Good Prompt?

Great AI prompts share five traits:

1. Clarity – Avoid vague or open-ended instructions.
2. Context – Add relevant information, goals, and use cases.
3. Structure – Use formatting or bullet points.
4. Iterative Feedback – Build on previous responses.
5. Role-Based Setup – Define who or what the AI is simulating (e.g., “You are a data analyst…”).

✅ Learn more in our Advanced Prompt Engineering Techniques guide.

✍️ Prompting ChatGPT: Write Like You’re Talking to a Smart Human

ChatGPT is ideal for:

• Brainstorming
• Content generation
• Simulations
• Summarization
• Role-playing

✅ Effective ChatGPT Prompt:

You are an experienced marketing strategist. Create a 3-month content plan for a tech startup targeting young professionals, including blog titles, post frequency, and content themes.

❌ Poor Prompt:

Give me content ideas.

🛠️ For more writing tasks, check out how to use ChatGPT for blogging.

💻 Prompting GitHub Copilot: Think Like a Developer

Copilot works best when you:

• Use detailed code comments
• Provide expected behavior
• Include sample inputs/outputs

✅ Effective Copilot Prompt:

# Write a function to calculate compound interest given principal, rate, time, and n (number of times compounded per year)

❌ Poor Prompt:

# interest

Want to explore more? Here's an intro to GitHub Copilot.

🧠 How to Think When Writing Prompts

When creating a prompt, ask:

• “What is the final goal of this task?”
• “What does the AI need to know?”
• “Can I add an example or format?”

Use words like summarize, compare, generate, simulate, or create—they’re action-packed and guide AI output more directly.

🧪 ChatGPT vs. Copilot: Prompt Examples

Task	ChatGPT Prompt	Copilot Prompt
Blog Outline	“Outline a blog post about AI in healthcare, targeting college students.”	# Outline a blog post about AI in healthcare for students
Write Code	“Write Python code for a BMI calculator with user input.”	# Calculate BMI using user input in Python
Debug Code	“Explain why this code is throwing an index error.”	# Why does this list index throw an error?
Refactor	“Simplify this function to improve readability.”	# Refactor this function for readability

Explore our step-by-step AI chatbot tutorial for hands-on practice.

🛠️ Prompt Engineering Tips for Better AI Results

• Use Plain Language: Avoid jargon unless necessary.
• Add Context: “Act as a…” or “You are an expert in…” works wonders.
• Request Formats: “Write this as a JSON file” or “Show in markdown table.”
• Give Examples: Sample inputs/outputs help guide the AI.
• Iterate & Improve: Don’t settle for the first output. Refine the prompt.

🚀 Final Thoughts: Talk to AI Like a Teammate

Whether you're using ChatGPT to write or GitHub Copilot to code, remember: your prompts are the blueprint. The clearer you are, the better the AI performs.

Mastering prompt writing is like learning a new language—but once you do, you unlock powerful productivity tools at your fingertips.

📌 Bonus: AI Prompt Cheat Sheet

Goal	Prompt Example
Summarize	“Summarize this article in 3 bullet points.”
Compare	“Compare the pros and cons of React and Vue in a table.”
Explain Code	“Explain what this Python code does step-by-step.”
Brainstorm	“List 10 innovative business ideas for a solo entrepreneur.”
Plan	“Create a weekly workout plan for a beginner.”

🧠 Want to learn how AI fits into your daily life? Read: Practical Applications of AI in Everyday Life