Applying prompts to GenAI/LLMs

For many professionals, one of the hardest parts of any project isn’t the work itself—it’s the "blank page" problem. Whether you are drafting a project proposal, conducting a literature review , or  brainstorming  innovative solutions, getting started can be a significant mental hurdle. Generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot are often described as "content creators," but their true value for professionals lies in enhancing productivity. By applying specific prompting techniques, you can transform a vague idea into a well-structured, reference-supported document in a fraction of the time. Here is a three-step workflow to turn GenAI into your ultimate research and planning partner. 1. Brainstorming with "Personas" and "Templates" Don't just ask the AI for "ideas." To get professional results, you must give the AI a Persona (who it is acting as) and a Template (how you want the output to look). In our recent ex...

I recently came across a genuinely useful idea on Tom's Guide about using an “onion prompt” with AI to organise your schedule when you’re overwhelmed. If you haven’t seen it, I’d strongly recommend reading the original article — it explains the thinking behind the method and the psychological principles that make it effective: https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-use-the-onion-prompt-with-chatgpt-when-im-buried-in-tasks-it-cuts-through-clutter-in-seconds How I’ve adapted it I’m using Google Gemini rather than ChatGPT, and I used my task list from Google Keep instead of viewing my desktop. The tools are little different (but not too much), but the central ideas are the same: strip away the layers hiding your real priorities and let AI “peel back” your to-do list until only what truly matters remains. To make it easier, I copied my Google Keep list into a Google Doc and pasted it into the prompt. Prompt 1: Prioritising with the “Onion” Method Here’s the version I’m using (slightly adapt...

Imagine buying complex furniture, but the instructions are a chaotic pile of sticky notes. That is exactly how programmers feel when trying to connect different web services (like weather apps or payment processors). They usually have to dig through messy documentation just to make two programs talk to each other. The OpenAPI Specification (OAS) fixes this by acting as a universal, standardised "Instruction Manual." Why It Matters OpenAPI acts as a perfect bridge between humans and machines: For Humans: It provides a clear map of what a service does, what information it needs, and what it returns. For Computers: Because the rules are strict and predictable, software can "read" the manual and automatically connect to the service. What Can You Do With It? With an OpenAPI blueprint, developers can plug into tools that do the heavy lifting for them: Create Visual Guides: Turn complex code into sleek, interactive websites where users can test the service with the cli...

From Google Scholar to Project Ideas or Using AI to Map the Future of Your Research Generated as well by Google Gemini Have you ever looked at a researcher's Google Scholar profile and felt overwhelmed by the lists of citations and technical titles? Whether you are a student looking for a dissertation topic or a professional trying to understand a collaborator's expertise, "connecting the dots" can be a challenge. In my latest experiment, I decided to see if Google Gemini could bridge that gap. I gave it a challenge: Look at my own research profile and design 10 compelling project ideas for a final-year student. Prompt used :  " Using this as a starting point https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ghQedZAAAAAJ&hl=en from the research here provide 10 project ideas suitable for a final year Computer Science student project with this supervisor. For each provide title, 100 word summary, possible outcome s " The "Ego Ride" with Unexpected Res...

Produced using Google Gemini In two previous posts I looked at using Generative AI to start producing  project ideas and refining one to be the start of the proposal, Previous blog posts GenAI Productivity: Ideas to project proposal 1 GenAI Productivity: Ideas to project proposal 2 One of the most significant cognitive hurdles for students is the transition from a high-level area of interest to a rigorously defined project specification. This "blank page" problem often leads to poorly scoped projects or a lack of alignment with current academic literature. Building on my previous experiments in prompt-mediated productivity, this post examines a structured workflow for using Large Language Models (LLMs)—specifically GPT-4o—to scaffold the development of a BSc Software Engineering project proposal. The Methodology: Multi-Stage Prompt Scaffolding Rather than requesting a single output, the workflow utilizes a recursive prompting strategy. This mirrors the iterative refinement pr...