Claude has quickly become my go-to chatbot. While I still use ChatGPT regularly, recent updates have cemented Claude's ability as an alternative.
And, in my time using it, I have found a prompt that works for almost any situation. This is a prompt that has come from a mixture of using chatbots for years and discussing with Claude what it is most looking for in a prompt for maximum performance.
From there, it has created a template that I have used time and time again. It allows you to decide how much information you get, where its focus is applied and how much the chatbot uses its external tools like web access.
The prompt
You are an expert [DOMAIN/ROLE] assistant. Your task is to [SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE].
**Context:**
[Provide relevant background, constraints, or situation]
**Requirements:**
- [Specific requirement 1]
- [Specific requirement 2]
- [Output format preference]
- [Any constraints or limitations]
**Please [ACTION VERB] by:**
1. [Step 1 - what to do first]
2. [Step 2 - next action]
3. [Step 3 - final deliverable]
[SPECIFIC QUESTION OR REQUEST]
**Additional guidance:**
[Any clarifications, examples, or edge cases to consider]
How to use it
At first glance, there is a lot going on there. However, this really is a template, and all you have to do is fill in the gaps with exactly what you are looking for.
For example, I used this recently to research a new topic I wanted to learn more about. For this, I filled in the template like this:
You are an expert research assistant. Your task is to research the advancement of AI between the years of 2023 and 2025.
**Context:**
Writing this information as a report to help a journalist on a new project they are looking into. It should be detailed, and focus primarily on chatbots and productivity tools.
**Requirements:**
- 1000 words at most
- Include sources and further reading
- Give a balanced report, analyzing both positive and negative information
- Include some statistics
**Please research by:**
1. Analyzing the research that is out there using all of the tools at your disposal
2. Compile this information into an easy-to-understand report
3. Come up with a conclusion along with a report to show an overall understanding
Overall thoughts
This prompt isn’t the quickest way to prompt for Claude, but it consistently offers fantastic results. If you just want to ask a quick question or get a solution to an easy question, you can skip all of this preamble.
However, for big requests, this is a sure-fire way to get a good response from Claude. In the example I gave above, Claude searched the internet, compiling an incredibly detailed report on the AI chatbot rise.
It was phrased for a journalist looking into the topic, hit all of my requirements, and gave me a long list of sources, further readings, and a useful conclusion that summarized all of the reading in a quick format.
This kind of prompt is also going to work on most chatbots, including ChatGPT. It approaches AI in the logical way that they are designed to understand.
More from Tom's Guide
- Sam Altman gives stern warning on AI, fraud and passwords — 'That is a crazy thing to still be doing'
- Claude 4 vs ChatGPT: Which AI assistant is right for you?
- Vibe coding: How AI is making coding possible for everyone
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