Forget Everything You’ve Learned About AI Prompting

There’s a sea of articles out there about “how to talk to AI” or “the perfect prompt structure.” Frameworks, formulas, special keywords—it can get overwhelming.

But what if I told you that you could forget all of it?

That’s right. All those complicated prompting techniques might be unnecessary, because there’s one fundamental principle that works better than anything else: AI excels at roleplaying.



Stop Treating AI Like a Search Engine

Here’s where most people go wrong—they approach AI like it’s Google. They try to extract information with perfectly structured queries, hoping to mine the AI for facts and figures.

But that’s not playing to the strengths of today’s language models.

Instead of treating AI like a database you’re querying, try something different: talk to it like it’s an improv actor waiting for a character to play.

Why does this work? Because under the hood, AI doesn’t store information like traditional databases. These models work with patterns, correlations, and learned relationships between concepts. They don’t have a fixed identity or worldview—they can adapt to whatever role you assign them.



The Roleplaying Approach in Action

Think about the difference between these two approaches:

Traditional approach: “Give me three facts about biology that would interest a teenager.”

Roleplaying approach: “You’re a world-renowned biologist who’s known for making science exciting for young people. My 16-year-old nephew thinks biology is boring. You have two minutes to change his mind with fascinating insights. What would you say?”

The second approach gives the AI a character to embody, an audience to connect with, and a goal to achieve. You’re not just extracting information—you’re setting the stage for a performance.



Why This Works Better

When you frame your interaction as a roleplaying scenario, several things happen:

  1. You get more tailored responses - The AI adapts its tone, vocabulary, and content selection to fit the character you’ve assigned it.

  2. Your responses feel more natural - Instead of listing facts, the AI tries to communicate as a human with the given expertise would.

  3. It solves the context problem - By establishing who’s talking to whom and why, you give the AI crucial context for shaping appropriate responses.

  4. You unlock creativity - Roleplaying creates space for the AI to generate novel perspectives and approaches.



Examples That Make the Difference

Let’s look at a few more examples of how the roleplaying approach transforms interactions:

Instead of: “Write a summary of the benefits of meditation.”

Try: “You’re a mindfulness coach with 20 years of experience. One of your clients keeps asking why they should bother with meditation when they’re so busy. Write a compassionate email explaining the benefits in a way that would resonate with a skeptical, overworked professional.”

Instead of: “Give me pros and cons of remote work.”

Try: “You’re a workplace culture consultant who’s helped companies both succeed and fail at remote work transitions. A small business owner has asked for your balanced perspective on implementing remote work. What insights would you share based on your experience?”



The Versatility of AI Roleplay

The beauty of the roleplay approach is how adaptable it is. You can ask the AI to take on virtually any perspective:

  • A scientist explaining complex ideas simply
  • A medieval bard recounting historical events
  • A friendly teacher helping with homework
  • A debate coach showing both sides of an argument
  • A colleague brainstorming solutions to a work problem

Each role creates a different lens through which the AI processes and presents information, giving you a rich variety of perspectives and communication styles.



Moving Beyond Information Extraction

This approach shifts your relationship with AI from extraction to collaboration. Rather than just pulling information out of the system, you’re creating a dynamic where the AI becomes a virtual partner adapted to your specific needs.

This is particularly powerful when you need:

  • Explanations tailored to specific audiences
  • Creative solutions to problems
  • Different perspectives on a complex issue
  • Engaging content with a consistent voice
  • Specialized expertise you don’t personally have


Try It Yourself

The next time you interact with ChatGPT, Claude or another AI assistant, experiment with the roleplaying approach:

  1. Define a character with expertise relevant to your question
  2. Establish an audience (who the AI is speaking to)
  3. Provide a purpose for the communication
  4. Set constraints if helpful (time, format, tone)

Then watch how the quality and relevance of your responses transform.



The Bottom Line

AI isn’t a database—it’s a chameleon waiting to take on whatever color you suggest. When you understand this fundamental nature, you unlock its greatest potential.

So forget the complicated prompting frameworks. The most powerful technique is also the simplest: treat AI like an improv actor, and you’ll get performances tailored exactly to your needs.