Try It: Prompt Engineering from edX

Everywhere you look, people are talking about AI. This course will help you better understand AI and how you can more effectively interact with it.

AI is a field of computer science that enables computers to simulate human intelligence. AI systems function by ingesting very large amounts of data. Similarly to how a human would, it “learns” from this data, and then uses that knowledge to predict future data and solve complex problems that, up until recently, could only be solved by humans.

The term “prompt” refers to the text that the user gives to the AI algorithm to tell it what to do. If you’ve ever tried to use ChatGPT or another AI model, you’ve already generated an AI prompt, but in order to generate the best output from a generative AI model, you must understand the opportunities and limitations of these models. This knowledge will help you phrase your prompt in a way that best allows the model to meet your needs.

This course focuses on the methodology of:

Crafting AI prompts to avoid AI hallucinations
Using examples and data in your prompts to help AI algorithms provide the most useful outputs for your needs
Utilizing key words to improve responses from AI algorithms

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to define key concepts related to the field of ai
How to explain key concepts related to the field of ai

How to engineer effective ai prompts

How to define key concepts related to the field of ai
How to explain key concepts related to the field of ai
How to engineer effective ai prompts

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches critical skills for improving communication with generative AI models

Introduces learners to the field of AI and its applications

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Try It: Prompt Engineering with these activities:

Review prior experience

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Ensure that you recall key concepts in computer science, such as data structures and algorithms, to fully grasp AI and to derive the most benefit from this course.

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Mentally recap the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP) and data structures (e.g., arrays, linked lists, queues, stacks, hash tables).
Consider projects you've worked on and identify examples of how AI principles could've improved the outcomes or analysis of those projects.

Create AI-generated content

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Deepen your understanding of AI's capabilities and limitations by experimenting with generating different types of content using AI models.

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Choose an AI model or platform that aligns with your interests or learning objectives.
Explore the different types of content that the model can generate, such as text, images, or code.
Experiment with different prompts and parameters to observe how they influence the generated output.

Seek guidance from AI experts

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Enhance your learning journey by connecting with experienced AI practitioners or researchers who can provide personalized guidance, share industry insights, and offer support.

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Attend industry events, join online communities, or reach out to professionals in your network to identify potential mentors.
Prepare a brief introduction and outline your learning goals to approach potential mentors.
Regularly engage with your mentor, ask thoughtful questions, and actively seek their feedback and advice.

One other activity

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Mastering the Fundamentals through Sutton and Barto's Book

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Gain a deep understanding of reinforcement learning, a critical subfield of AI, by thoroughly reading and comprehending the seminal work of Sutton and Barto.

View Reinforcement Learning, second edition: An... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of the book and set aside dedicated time for reading and studying.
Break down the book into smaller sections and focus on understanding the key concepts and algorithms.
Work through the exercises and assignments in the book to test your understanding and apply the concepts practically.

Career center

Learners who complete Try It: Prompt Engineering will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

AI Researcher

An AI Researcher explores and develops new AI algorithms and techniques. This course provides a comprehensive overview of AI principles and how to effectively interact with AI models. The knowledge gained from this course can help you stay at the forefront of AI research and contribute to advancements in the field.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist uses data analysis and machine learning to extract insights from data. This course provides a solid foundation in AI concepts and prompt engineering techniques, which are essential for effectively working with AI models in data science. Understanding how to craft effective prompts will help you derive more accurate and meaningful insights from your data.

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Machine Learning Engineer

A Machine Learning Engineer builds and deploys machine learning models to automate complex tasks. This course provides a foundation in AI concepts and prompt engineering techniques, which are essential for effectively training and deploying machine learning models. By understanding how to craft effective prompts, you can improve the accuracy and efficiency of your models.

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Data Analyst

A Data Analyst gathers, cleans, and interprets data to derive meaningful insights. This course can help you develop the skills to effectively prompt AI models to extract valuable information from large datasets. Understanding how AI learns from data and how to craft effective prompts will enhance your ability to leverage AI for data analysis, leading to more accurate and efficient insights.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, executes, and delivers projects. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to enhance project planning, risk management, and resource allocation. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can generate insights that improve project outcomes and increase efficiency.

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Business Analyst

A Business Analyst analyzes business needs and develops solutions to improve efficiency and profitability. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to gain insights into customer behavior, market trends, and operational inefficiencies. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can generate valuable insights that drive better decision-making and improve business outcomes.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager manages the development and launch of new products. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to enhance product design, customer engagement, and market research. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can gather valuable insights that drive better product decisions and improve customer satisfaction.

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Operations Manager

An Operations Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of an organization. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can generate insights that drive operational excellence and improve overall performance.

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Risk Manager

A Risk Manager identifies and manages risks to an organization. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to enhance risk identification, assessment, and mitigation. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can generate insights that improve risk management practices and protect the organization from potential threats.

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Compliance Officer

A Compliance Officer ensures that an organization complies with laws and regulations. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to automate compliance checks, identify potential violations, and mitigate risks. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can generate insights that improve compliance practices and reduce legal liabilities.

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Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst analyzes financial data and provides insights to support investment decisions. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to enhance financial modeling, risk assessment, and portfolio management. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can generate insights that drive better financial decision-making and improve investment returns.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course can help you build a foundation in AI concepts and prompt engineering techniques, which are becoming increasingly important in software development. By incorporating AI into your software applications, you can enhance their functionality and user experience.

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Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager develops and executes marketing campaigns to promote products and services. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to enhance target audience identification, content creation, and campaign performance analysis. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can generate insights that drive more effective and personalized marketing campaigns.

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Customer Success Manager

A Customer Success Manager ensures customer satisfaction and retention. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to analyze customer feedback, identify pain points, and develop tailored solutions. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can generate insights that drive higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.

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Sales Manager

A Sales Manager leads and motivates a sales team to achieve sales goals. This course can help you develop the skills to leverage AI to identify and qualify leads, personalize customer interactions, and optimize sales processes. By understanding how to craft effective AI prompts, you can generate insights that improve sales performance and drive revenue growth.

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