What is Prompt Engineering?

Prompt engineering is an emerging discipline focused on designing and optimizing inputs for language models (LMs) to maximize their effectiveness across various applications. It is a crucial skill for understanding and leveraging the capabilities and limitations of large language models (LLMs).

This field serves multiple stakeholders:

  • Researchers use it to enhance LLMs’ performance in complex tasks, including question answering and arithmetic reasoning

  • Developers employ it to create robust interfaces between LLMs and other tools

  • Safety engineers utilize it to improve LLM security and reliability

Beyond prompt creation, prompt engineering encompasses:

  • Techniques for effective LLM interaction

  • Methods for integrating domain knowledge

  • Strategies for combining LLMs with external tools

  • Skills for optimizing model outputs