OpenAI Releases Prompt Writing Guide for General Users

OpenAI has released a prompt writing guide for general users. Historically, the technical information the company has provided has been primarily developer-focused, but this time the target audience is a broad range of users without specialized knowledge. Additionally, this is the first guide to address both ChatGPT, an AI chat service, and Codex, a code generation tool, within a single framework.

As generative AI becomes increasingly prevalent, many users feel uncertain about how to write prompts effectively. While numerous prompt writing guides exist online, many feature complex templates and detailed rules, which can paradoxically make things more difficult for general users. Recognizing this challenge, OpenAI has now presented a more intuitive approach.

The guide introduces four elements: 'objective,' 'context,' 'format,' and 'constraints.' However, these are not mandatory requirements but rather optional components that can be combined as needed. The core advice is straightforward: rather than explaining procedures in detail, it recommends 'describing the desired result in words.'

This approach encourages a shift from the 'step-by-step explanation' that many people instinctively use when giving instructions to AI, toward 'stating the objective.' To use a cooking analogy, it is closer to conveying the final dish—such as 'a Japanese-style, fish-based, home-style dinner menu'—rather than specifying each recipe step one by one. This approach is positioned as effective for leveraging the capabilities AI possesses.

What stands out particularly is the integration of two distinct services, ChatGPT and Codex, into a single guide. Previously, the two were often discussed separately, but this framework demonstrates that OpenAI has determined that the same thinking applies to both. This means that even non-developers can apply the same approach across various scenarios, from everyday writing to code-related questions.

The release of this guide is positioned as an effort to broaden the entry point for AI utilization. The message that users need only communicate 'what they want to achieve' in their own words, rather than learning complex operations, is expected to lower the psychological barrier for users who have recently begun using AI as an everyday tool. OpenAI's strengthened focus on providing information to general users represents a noteworthy development in considering the company's future service deployment.