Fine-tuning your Copilot prompts

Update January 23, 2024: At Microsoft, we are always updating and testing features to offer our users the best possible experiences as we experiment with new approaches to functionality. To improve the user experience and streamline our tools that empower creativity, Bing Image Creator is now Designer and Bing Chat is now Copilot. Create wow-worthy images with your words and AI with Designer, and try Copilot, your AI-powered search assistant for the web.

Copilot can help you with various tasks, from cooking and finding recipes to planning trips and budgeting. To make the most of it, you need to know how to use AI. Learn ways to optimize your Copilot prompts and find examples of how you can make a prompt stronger to get the most out of AI in your everyday.

Three ways to fine-tune your AI prompts

Fine-tuning your prompts in Copilot can help you receive tailored responses and results. If you get results that are underwhelming or not relevant to what you’re looking for, your prompt might need a tune-up. Here are a few ways to strengthen your prompts along with examples of how to make weak prompts much more effective:

1. Add more details

Details are important when using Copilot. You can use AI for gardening tips, for instance, but you’ll need to provide details in your prompt to get the most relevant tips for you. If you prompt Copilot with “Tell me about plants,” you’ll receive a generic, high-level response about plants in general. The prompt is too vague and broad.

Compare that prompt to this detailed request: “I’m planning to start a small vegetable garden on my 5-foot-by-5-foot balcony. Can you recommend easy-to-grow vegetables that are suitable for pots? I have limited sunlight in that area.” The second prompt provides specific context and mentions what your intentions are, which helps Copilot offer precise results.

2. Incorporate lists

Lists are a great AI prompting tool. Instead of telling Copilot, “I need recipes,” you can fine-tune this prompt to include a list of ingredients you want to use or meals you’ve loved in the past. Providing a list of examples, requirements, or limitations can help your conversation with Copilot lead to what you’re really after.

Here are examples of fine-tuned prompts to get recipes using lists:

• I have chicken breasts, broccoli, and bell peppers in my fridge, and I want to prepare a healthy dinner for my family. Can you suggest a flavorful recipe that includes these ingredients?
• My favorite dishes are eggplant parmigiana, rigatoni, and mostaccioli. What are five dishes I could try that you think I might love?
  
• I’m having a dinner party, and guests have the following dietary restrictions: gluten free, lactose intolerant, and vegetarian. What can I make that they can all enjoy?