Prompt engineering
Prompt engineering is the practice of writing and testing instructions so an AI model reliably does what you need. It ranges from everyday habits (be specific, give examples) to carefully tested templates used inside business software.
In one line, for a 12-year-old
Prompt engineering is getting really good at asking the AI questions so it gives you what you actually need.
An example
A teacher refines a prompt over a week until the AI's reading-level summaries are consistently right for grade 5.
Why it matters to people
Good prompting is a learnable skill, not a secret. Free courses — many listed in our Labs — teach it in an afternoon.