26.5.25

How ChatGPT Works: A Guide to Effective AI Conversations (ChatGPT Lesson #1)

How ChatGPT works

Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot have revolutionized the way we interact with artificial intelligence (AI). ChatGPT, in particular, has become a powerful tool for answering questions, assisting with writing, coding, brainstorming ideas, and even engaging in meaningful conversations. As AI technology continues to evolve, LLMs are expected to become even more integrated into daily life, helping people unlock new levels of productivity and creativity.

What is a Large Language Model?

A Large Language Model (LLM) is like a super-smart AI that has read a huge amount of text—from books, articles, and websites—and learned how language works. It can understand questions, generate responses, and even help with writing, coding, and problem-solving.

Imagine an enormous library packed with every book, article, and webpage ever created. Now, think of a super-smart librarian who has absorbed all that knowledge and can effortlessly generate human-like text based on it. That’s the essence of a Large Language Model!

These models are considered "large" because they are trained on vast amounts of text data, enabling them to recognize patterns, relationships, and linguistic structures. This extensive training allows them to generate well-formed, contextually relevant responses to prompts or questions with remarkable accuracy.

ChatGPT, much like the super-smart librarian analogy, specializes in engaging conversations, making interactions feel natural and dynamic.

How Does ChatGPT Actually Work?

It's like a smart guessing game. When you ask ChatGPT a question, it looks at the words you've used and predicts what comes next based on patterns it has learned. It keeps doing this, word by word, until it forms a full response that makes sense.

For instance, when you begin a sentence with "The cat sat on the...", ChatGPT might guess "mat" as the next word because it's seen that phrase many times before. But it doesn't just predict single words—it understands the full context, allowing it to generate detailed and meaningful responses.

Imagine you want to cook something by using ChatGPT. You can write a prompt by asking the following: Can you help me by sharing the best recipe to make a sandwich?

ChatGPT uses its knowledge to create a unique response that fits your specific question, combining patterns and context to provide a thoughtful answer.

If you want to clarify your food preferences, you could write: I am a vegetarian . Can you refine your answer accordingly?

ChatGPT: To make a delicious vegetarian sandwich, layer fresh ingredients like crisp vegetables, creamy avocado, hummus, and a slice of your favorite cheese between slices of whole grain or sourdough bread. Ensure the bread is toasted or fresh, and balance the flavors and textures for a satisfying bite.

ChatGPT doesn't just repeat a recipe it has seen before or generate a random recipe. Instead, it combines its understanding to generate a unique response tailored to your question.

ChatGPT can remember the context of a conversation, but without clear direction, its responses may not always fully meet your needs. This is why prompt engineering plays a crucial role in shaping more precise and relevant answers.

What's a Prompt?

Before diving into prompt engineering, let's first break down what a prompt is. A prompt is simply your way of telling ChatGPT what you need. Think of a prompt like a magic spell—you say the right words, and poof! ChatGPT conjures up a response. It’s like talking to a super-smart genie, except instead of granting three wishes, it gives you knowledge, ideas, or even jokes.

Or imagine you’re ordering food at a restaurant. If you just say “food, please,” you might not get exactly what you want. But if you say, “I’d like a juicy cheeseburger with extra pickles,” you get something much better. That’s what a well-crafted prompt does—it helps you get the best response possible!

Let's say you need to draft an email to postpone a meeting. Your prompt to ChatGPT could be as straightforward as "Write an email to reschedule our meeting."

Prompt engineering is the skill of giving clear instructions to these models so they understand and respond better. In simple terms, it’s about asking the right way to get the best answer from an LLM like ChatGPT.

For example, you don't have enough time to consider the ingredients. So, you ask ChatGPT the following to save you some time: Give me a specific recipe so I do not need to think about ingredients.

So, if you give clear instructions, ChatGPT can help you reach your goals—making a sandwich is just one simple example.

This skill, called prompt engineering, can also be used in areas like customer service and content creation to save time and increase profits with AI.

As a beginner in prompt engineering, your goal is to learn how to give clear instructions to ChatGPT for the best results.


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