83: Why AI prompting is hard

In this episode, Erik dives into why prompting AI is hard, especially for those of us who have spent twenty years being trained to search the web with short, concise queries. He unpacks the shift from keyword-driven search habits to the more detailed, creative instructions AI systems require, and explains what this new “prompt literacy” means for everyday users, educators, and anyone working with modern AI. SHOW NOTES OpenAI: Best practices for prompt engineering with the OpenAI API Palantir: Best Practices for Prompt Engineering System in Motion: Why is prompting for image generation so difficult? Nielsen Norman Group: How AI Is Changing Search Behavior One Useful Thing: Working with AI: Two Paths to Prompting CONTACT Website:examining.ca Twitter: @ExaminingPod Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: erikchristiansen.net Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca Website: krishans.ca

Episode 83 of the Examining podcast, hosted by Erik Christiansen and Kris Hans, titled "83: Why AI prompting is hard" was published on November 20, 2025 and runs 12 minutes.

November 20, 2025 ·12m · Examining

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Summary

In this episode, Erik dives into why prompting AI is hard, especially for those of us who have spent twenty years being trained to search the web with short, concise queries. He unpacks the shift from keyword-driven search habits to the more detailed, creative instructions AI systems require, and explains what this new “prompt literacy” means for everyday users, educators, and anyone working with modern AI. SHOW NOTES OpenAI: Best practices for prompt engineering with the OpenAI API Palantir: Best Practices for Prompt Engineering System in Motion: Why is prompting for image generation so difficult? Nielsen Norman Group: How AI Is Changing Search Behavior One Useful Thing: Working with AI: Two Paths to Prompting CONTACT Website:examining.ca Twitter: @ExaminingPod Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: erikchristiansen.net Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca Website: krishans.ca

Episode Description

In this episode, Erik dives into why prompting AI is hard, especially for those of us who have spent twenty years being trained to search the web with short, concise queries. He unpacks the shift from keyword-driven search habits to the more detailed, creative instructions AI systems require, and explains what this new “prompt literacy” means for everyday users, educators, and anyone working with modern AI.

SHOW NOTES

OpenAI: Best practices for prompt engineering with the OpenAI API
Palantir: Best Practices for Prompt Engineering
System in Motion: Why is prompting for image generation so difficult?
Nielsen Norman Group: How AI Is Changing Search Behavior
One Useful Thing: Working with AI: Two Paths to Prompting

CONTACT

Website:examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host

Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca

Website: krishans.ca

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