L071 · Asking well · 2 min
Give AI a role
Telling AI who to be changes what it notices, which words it uses and how deep it goes.
01 · The idea
Ask "Is this contract fair?" and you get a general answer. Ask "You are a lawyer who protects freelancers. Is this contract fair to me?" and the answer starts pointing at payment terms, deadlines and who owns the work.
A role works like a filter. It tells the model which part of everything it learned to draw on, and what a good answer looks like for that kind of person. A teacher explains, an editor cuts, a skeptic hunts for holes.
Make the role specific. "An expert" adds little. "A primary school teacher explaining fractions to a nervous 9 year old" adds a lot, because it brings an audience and a goal along with it.
A role does not give the model real qualifications. A pretend doctor is still a chatbot. For health, money or legal decisions, use the answer to prepare good questions for a real professional.
02 · Think of it like this
It is like calling the right department. The same company answers differently when you reach sales, support or accounts.
03 · Do it now
04 · Quick check
Words in this lesson
See also
L173AI at work · 2 min
Practising safely with AI simulations
AI can play the other side of a hard situation, like an angry customer or a job interviewer, so you can practise where mistakes cost nothing.
L176AI at work · 3 min
Make your own simple simulation
With one careful prompt, you can turn a chatbot into a small practice game with a goal, a score and feedback at the end.
L198AI at work · 2 min
Giving feedback to a colleague
Use AI to turn a frustrated rant into specific, kind feedback about behaviour and its effect, then say it in your own voice.
L279AI at work · 2 min
Messaging your child's teacher
A chatbot can help you write a clear, polite message to your child's teacher when you are worried or upset.