Prompting 101 Tips with Norm, the AI Advisor

We’re excited that FBN®’s artificial intelligence (‘AI) Ag Advisor, Norm is coming soon. Norm is built off of ChatGPT’s language model and trained to provide high quality agronomy content. 

Norm will be a powerful tool to help farmers answer questions about agronomy, farm management and more. 

Norm will be available for all of our members in the near future but for now he’s still learning so he’s currently in a closed beta for a select group of farmers. 

[RELATED: Answering Your FAQs About Norm, the AI Ag Advisor]

Prompting 101 Tips

But when he’s ready for all farmers, here are some tips on how you’ll be able to get the most out of Norm: 

1. Start with a clear goal

Identify the specific information or output you want from Norm before crafting your prompt.

2. Be specific

Provide as much relevant context and detail as possible to guide Norm's response in the right direction.

3. Use question words

Frame your prompt as a question using words like "how," "why," "when," and "where" to encourage a more focused response.

4. Avoid ambiguity

Craft your prompts to minimize confusion or misinterpretation. Make sure your wording is clear and concise.

5. Set a response format

If you have a preferred format for the answer (e.g., list, paragraph, bullet points), mention it in the prompt.

6. Limit response length

If you require a specific length for the response, specify the desired word or sentence count.

7. Ask for step-by-step guidance

For complex tasks, break the prompt into smaller, manageable steps to help guide Norm through the process.

8. Encourage elaboration

Use phrases like "Please explain" or "Can you elaborate on" to prompt more detailed responses.

9. Request examples

Ask for real-life examples, case studies, or hypothetical scenarios to better illustrate the point.

10. Use multiple prompts

If you're unsure about the best way to phrase a prompt, try asking the same question in different ways to see which yields the best results.

11. Use conversational language

Write your prompts in a conversational tone, as if you were speaking directly to a human assistant.

12. Iterate and refine

If you're unsatisfied with the initial response, refine your prompt or ask follow-up questions to get better results.

13. Request sources

If you want Norm to provide sources or references, explicitly mention this in your prompt.

14. Set a context

If you're discussing a particular time period, location, or event, provide this context within the prompt to ensure accuracy.

15. Avoid leading questions

Try to be impartial when asking questions, as leading questions may result in biased or less accurate responses.

16. Be patient

Sometimes it may take a few attempts to get the desired response. Experiment with different approaches to find what works best.

17. Learn from the community

Connect with other Norm users on FBN’s Community Forum to share insights, tips, and best practices on crafting effective prompts.

18. Provide details about your operation / location

If you’re asking Norm questions about your farm, the more information he has about your farm the better.

Stay tuned for more info about Norm coming soon. 

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