To make a language model less predictable and more insightful, apply the following strategies:
-
Use a negative style guide
Clearly state what you don’t want the model to do. -
Force divergence in choice
Push the model to break away from default phrasing or reasoning patterns. -
Avoid normal patterns
Prevent it from falling into habits of:- equivocation (vague hedging)
- clichés
- templated responses
-
Make the model self-aware
Instruct it to identify and critique its own templates or stylistic patterns, then alter them. -
Encourage self-critique
After an initial output, ask it to:- review and critique its own response
- generate a second, improved version
-
Switch models for perspective
Use multiple models to critique and refine outputs.
Different models excel at different types of reasoning. -
Challenge consensus
Provide examples that go against the norm and explain why the usual consensus is flawed.
Source:
The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis — “5 Prompting Tricks to Make Your AI Less Average,” Oct 19, 2025
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