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Define the Task
Defining the task means telling AI exactly what you want it to produce. Without a defined task, AI has to guess, and guessing produces generic results.
How to Define the Task
The task is the action you want AI to perform.
Common task types:
- Write: create new text (email, summary, blog post, code)
- Explain: break down a concept or topic
- Summarize: condense longer content into key points
- List: produce a set of items
- Review: check or analyze existing content
- Translate: convert text to another language
- Compare: show differences and similarities between things
- Identify: find specific elements in content
Be specific about which task you need. 'Write' and 'summarize' are different tasks.
Deep Learning ⊂ Machine Learning ⊂ Artificial Intelligence
Task Definition Examples
- Weak task: 'Do something with this email.' Defined task: 'Summarize this email in 2 sentences.'
- Weak task: 'Python help.' Defined task: 'Write a Python function that reads a CSV file and returns the column names.'
- Weak task: 'My presentation.' Defined task: 'Review this presentation outline and identify any sections that are unclear or missing key information.'
- Weak task: 'Content ideas.' Defined task: 'List 5 blog post ideas for a fitness brand targeting beginners who want to start exercising at home.'
Key Takeaways
- The task is the action verb at the core of your prompt
- Common tasks: write, explain, summarize, list, review, translate, compare, identify
- A defined task removes guesswork and produces more targeted results
- Different tasks (write vs summarize) produce very different outputs
- Always start by deciding exactly which task you need before writing the prompt
Key Takeaways
- Defining the task means telling AI exactly what you want it to produce.
- Weak task: 'Do something with this email.' Defined task: 'Summarize this email in 2 sentences.'
- Weak task: 'Python help.' Defined task: 'Write a Python function that reads a CSV file and returns the column names.'
- Weak task: 'My presentation.' Defined task: 'Review this presentation outline and identify any sections that are unclear or missing key information.'