Become a Prompt Alchemist, Not Just a Prompt Engineer

I don’t like the phrase or so called new job title, Prompt Engineer, as it labels the very idea of working with and in natural language, overly complicated and complex than it needs to be.

Generative AI (or Gen AI in short) is all about natural language. It generates text or images or videos etc. all in forms easily comprehensible to us, irrespective of the science & mathematics behind it. So, why do we talk about becoming an engineer when this should ideally be all quite natural to us?

Let’s dissect this phrase further to truly understand it:

Prompt: In the context of AI, a “prompt” is a user-supplied input that instructs or guides the AI in performing a specific task. This could be a question, a statement, or a request for the AI to generate text, images, or perform some other kind of task. The key aspect here to understand from an input and output perspective is, “the quality and structure of the prompt significantly influence the AI’s output“.

Engineer: The term “engineer” is traditionally associated with someone who designs, builds, or maintains complex systems. In the context of AI, an engineer is someone who understands the workings of the AI model and how different types of prompts can affect its outputs. Important thing to note in this definition is that person (or user) interacting with AI needs to know the inner functioning to generate a better output.

The last line is exactly what troubles me the most, let me give you a cliché analogy to make my point.

Do you believe, a car driver need to know the inner workings of a car? Absolutely not. Having said that, knowing the quality of engine, throughput of the car, understanding the gears, power of steering wheel makes an ordinary driver, a skilled one, perhaps even a safer driver.

Now you may ask, then what’s the problem in calling it a prompt engineer. My argument is, the term “engineer” implies a level of technical skill and understanding of systems. Prompt Engineers need to have a deep understanding of how AI systems work, similar to how a software engineer understands code and systems. It implies a level of technical skill and system understanding that could be intimidating.

So, what’s wrong with the term “Prompt Engineer”? It implies a level of technical skill and system understanding that could be intimidating. It goes against the idea that in the age of Gen AI, anyone should be able to craft the right prompt to get the desired output. To democratize this brilliant technology, we need to:

This goes against the very idea that in the age of Generative AI, anyone should be able to craft the right prompt to get the desired output. If we want everyone to take advantage of such a brilliant technology, we need to democratise this further by doing the following two things:

1. Break the notion that crafting prompts is solely an engineer’s job, requiring technical skills and system understanding.
2. and second, the currently available models need to improve significantly if the reach should go beyond few.

While, the second point is for the major players working to create these models and making it available to public and business at large, we can change the narrative around this being a job of engineer.

If I can push it further, it is not even inclusive.

I propose to adopt and promote the idea, that it should be called, perceived, and developed as Prompt Alchemist. Let me make my case:

Firstly, it beautifully combines the art of crafting effective prompts with the transformative and almost magical connotation of alchemy.

1. Alchemy: Alchemy is traditionally seen as the ancient practice of transforming base metals into noble metals, like gold. Similarly, a “Prompt Alchemist” transforms basic ideas or questions into powerful prompts that unlock the full potential of AI, turning simple inputs into valuable outputs.
2. Creative and Transformative: The term ‘alchemist’ suggests a blend of creativity, experimentation, and transformation. This mirrors the process of developing prompts that change raw data or capabilities of an AI into insightful, useful, or imaginative responses. Remember, the LLM models have just ingested the knowledge like a human gain knowledge, but it is only effective when there is ability to use it. Hence, the art of extracting the value from that knowledge is truly an alchemy.
3. Mystique and Depth: Using the word “alchemist” adds a layer of mystique and depth, suggesting that the person in this role has deep, almost arcane knowledge (read: not technical know-how) that allows them to interact effectively with AI systems.
4. Flexibility and Innovation: Just as alchemists in history were known for their relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation, a Prompt Alchemist would be seen as continually exploring new ways to interact with and elicit responses from AI, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
5. Universal Appeal: The title is intuitive, inclusive, and has a universal appeal that transcends technical jargon, making it accessible and intriguing to both technical and non-technical audiences.

You may or may not agree with my arguments. You might even consider this a mere semantic debate. However, I firmly believe that if we view this as an evolving skill or a new job category, we need to break norms and think disruptively.

If you’re intrigued by this and are keen to enhance productivity, efficiency, and offer exceptional customer and employee experiences, let’s start a conversation. The future of business is here, and it’s definitely powered by Generative AI.

Let me know in comments, what is your take on this.