What do you think about translation job specifications that read like a novel? They’re exhausting to read. They’re also ineffective. Half the time we don’t read them carefully anyway, do we?

Generative AI is no different. Overload it with fluff, and the AI might just ignore you!

Here’s how to get better results.

1. Be concise.
Think of your prompts as compact powerhouses of instruction. While it sometimes may be necessary to repeat key instructions if the AI doesn’t catch them, repetition should be minimal. Maintain brevity and impact.

2. Provide appropriate training examples.
When you want the AI to do something specific, aim for two or three varied examples. The benefit of adding more examples plateaus quickly, and just repeating very similar instructions doesn’t help either. Precision and variety breed mastery in guiding the AI’s performance.

3. Avoid asking the AI for too much.
Part and parcel of being concise is ensuring you don’t tell the AI to juggle too many tasks at once. When you load up a prompt with too many outcomes, the AI struggles to deliver effectively. Striking the right balance in your commands is crucial to getting the most accurate and efficient output.

In summary, concise prompts, clear examples, and manageable tasks are pivotal to unlocking AI’s full potential in your translation workflow. Embrace these strategies to boost both speed and precision in your projects.