The assistant only understands what you wrote
The most common cause of a weak answer is a vague request. AI doesn't read minds: the clearer the task, the better the result. Simple formula: what to do + for whom + in what form.
Compare
Write a congratulation
Happy birthday! Wishing you happiness, health and success. (generic and faceless)
Write a warm birthday note to a friend turning 30, short, with light humor
Happy 30th, buddy! Thirty is when you're wise but still bring the fire. May the year be generous with great moments. Hug!
Same model ā but the second request gave exactly what was needed, because you described the recipient, tone and length.
Three things worth adding
- For whom/what: "for my boss", "in a personal chat", "for a card".
- Format: "3 sentences", "as a list", "simple, no jargon".
- Tone: "friendly", "formal", "with humor".
Exercise
Ask for something in one word (e.g., "vacation"), then in detail ("suggest 3 autumn vacation options for a week, I love the sea and quiet"). Compare the answers and feel the difference.
Don't like the answer? Don't rewrite everything. Say what to change: "shorter", "simpler", "add an example".
š§ What makes an answer more precise?