Learn Prompting - Zero Shot

Google just released a 69-page whitepaper on prompt engineering. It’s packed with frameworks, strategies, and examples for getting better results from large language models like Gemini and ChatGPT.

It’s also packed with tech jargon. Yawn.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to read all 69 pages.

You just need the right parts—and someone who’s already sifted through it to pull out what matters.

That’s where I come in.

I read the whole thing so you don’t have to. I pulled out the pieces that can actually help you work smarter with AI—especially if you use tools like ChatGPT to:

• Write better emails or summaries

• Plan projects, content, or reports

• Think through decisions more clearly

• Simplify complex topics

• Automate repetitive tasks

If you’ve ever typed a question into an AI tool and thought, “That’s not what I meant,” this post is for you.

Let’s start with the basics minus the fluff.

A prompt is just what you type (or say) to an AI tool. It’s the input you give it; the way you ask for help.

Whenever you tell ChatGPT or Gemini to summarize something, write an email, or plan a project, you’re prompting.

Think of it as better prompting. Prompt engineering is just the skill of asking AI for what you need in a way it understands. It’s not coding. It’s not technical. It’s simply getting more specific and intentional about what you’re asking.

Instead of saying: “Can you help me with this?”

You’d say: “Turn this outline into three bullet points I can use in a meeting.”

Better inputs = better outputs.

The way I think about it is you have a new virtual assistant and they don't know what you know, they don't know what you want or how you want it, but they're REALLY, REALLY good at doing exactly what you tell them to do.

So, if you're as clear as possible with them, you can get them to do some really outstanding work to help you out.

Because if your prompt is even a slightly bit better, it can save you time, give you better answers, and make the entire experience feel more useful.

Clearer prompts = clearer output.

When you get in the habit of prompting with more intention, everything changes.

So, let's start at the most basic: zero-shot prompting.

This is where I suggest we start, and where a lot of people get stuck.

A zero-shot prompt is when you ask AI to do something without giving it any examples of what you want. You're asking it to figure it out based on your instructions alone.

That’s why it’s called “zero-shot.” You’re giving the tool zero examples or samples to follow. You’re just describing the task and the outcome you want.

These prompts work because they’re clear. They describe the task, the topic, and the format you want—without overcomplicating it.

Here’s a simple structure you can use to create your own:

Zero-shot prompts are great for everyday tasks where the goal is clear and the outcome is simple.

Here’s when they work really well:

• When you're short on time and just need to get something started

• When the task is straightforward, like summarizing, outlining, or rewording

• When you're not sure how to begin but know what you want in the end

• When you want a quick draft you can refine or personalize later

• I always think of "one and done". I don't need anything further than the first response because it is that simple of a request.
  
  

You don’t need to overthink it. If you can describe what you want and why you need it, you’re already halfway there.

When should you avoid zero-shot prompts?​
If the task is complex, unfamiliar, or high-stakes, it helps to give more structure. That’s when examples, reference points, or step-by-step instructions can really improve the result. (Don't worry, those are coming up future posts.)

But for most of your daily work? Zero-shot is a solid go-to.

My next post goes a bit deeper into prompting. You don't want to miss it.