Is Prompt Engineering Dying?
The Rise and Fall of Prompt Engineering Prompt engineering is everywhere—it’s the hot topic in the AI world. The World Economic Forum, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and the Twitterverse can’t stop talking about it. My feeds are filled with ads promoting courses that promise to make you a fortune with minimal effort. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: prompt engineering is already facing its decline. Don Giannatti originally wrote on this topic in June of 2023. Whic got us thinking, is prompt engineering dying? Why Is Prompt Engineering Fading? Reason 1: AI Is Getting Smarter AI is advancing rapidly. Machines are starting to understand our words and phrases just like we do, similar to a child learning to talk. The need for finely tuned prompts is decreasing because AI is developing the ability to generate its own prompts simply by interpreting questions. It’s learning all the time. Reason 2: AI Crafts Its Own Prompts SDon already usea minimal nudge prompts, which AI then expands into detailed, contextually accurate prompts. GPT-4 can do this, and GPT-5 will have it even more integrated. While prompt engineering has been trendy among marketers and tech enthusiasts, its relevance is quickly waning. Reason 3: Prompts Are Limited in Versatility Prompts are tailored for specific AI models and versions, limiting their flexibility. AI can overcome these limitations more efficiently than humans. Machine learning excels in reducing input and friction, and AI is quickly learning and improving upon human-made prompts. The Future: Problem Formulation The enduring skill in the AI age is problem formulation—how we identify, analyze, and define problems. When we can clearly illustrate a problem, AI can provide efficient solutions. AI cannot identify unquantifiable problems that aren’t part of existing systems—that’s still a human strength, for now. Prompt Engineering vs. Problem Formulation Prompt engineering focuses on the words, sentence structure, and punctuation. Problem formulation is about defining the problem—seeing the bigger picture and broader strokes. Without a well-defined problem, even the best-crafted prompt is just a set of words. Why Problem Formulation Matters Problem formulation has been overshadowed by problem-solving. It’s not easy, isn’t taught in universities, and isn’t popularized by futurists. Yet, it’s essential. Executives often struggle with diagnosing problems—85% of them say so. To stay ahead, we need better problem formulation. Four Ways to Enhance Problem Formulation Embracing AI Wisely AI is evolving quickly. To leverage its potential, we must clearly identify problems. Once defined, AI can generate prompts to find solutions. A Take on AI While one can appreciate the educational and helpful capabilities of GPT and other language models, be cautious about the rapid integration of AI into our lives without adequate discussion or input from society. I trust AI more than the billionaires driving its adoption, but be wary of their motivations. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more