I am looking at AI through the lens of a designer. The below text is from a LinkedIn post I created in February 2024. I wrote it because the impact AI is having on our industry is considerable. I’ve been inspired to learn more and share what I’m learning and experiencing. More to come… 

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Q: What exactly is “prompt drift?”

A: It’s a phenomenon that can occur when interacting with AI models, especially those designed for generating content based on given prompts. It happens when the AI’s output gradually shifts away from the original intent or topic specified in the prompt, leading to irrelevant or off-topic content (this happens to humans, too 😅).

Why it happens: The AI misunderstands the context; it might try to fill in gaps with general knowledge; or it tries to continue generating content based on its own generated text rather than strictly adhering to the original prompt.

What to do about it:

1. Clarity is Key: Start with clear, well-defined prompts. Specificity guides the AI more effectively.

2. Step by Step: Engage with the AI incrementally to steer the conversation and correct course as needed.

3. Stay on Target: Reiterate your main objectives in your prompts to refocus the AI when it strays.

4. Keywords Matter: Use relevant keywords to emphasize the focus areas for the AI.

5. Feedback Works: Provide feedback on the AI’s responses to help it adjust and improve over time.

6. Structure Your Requests: Outlining the desired format or structure in your prompts can help maintain direction.

7. Master Prompt Engineering: Craft your prompts strategically to guide the AI towards the desired outcome.

8. Brevity Can Help: Consider shorter responses to minimize the chance of drift.

With these strategies, you can harness the power of AI more effectively, ensuring your interactions remain relevant and productive. Let’s keep our AI engagements sharp and focused!