Show AI What You Mean: Examples and Demonstrations

Show AI an Example

AI works MUCH better when you show it an example of what you want.

Want a poem? Show AI a poem you like. Want a story? Show AI a story style you enjoy.

Three places examples help

• Writing in a style you like
• Solving math problems like a sample
• Drawing pictures in a certain look

The big idea: Show AI an example of what you want. It learns your taste in seconds.

Show, Do Not Just Tell: Give AI an Example

The big idea

Sometimes telling AI what you want is hard. SHOWING it is easier — and works better.

Some examples

• Instead of: 'Make a fun rhyming poem.' Try: 'Make a poem like this: Roses are red, violets are blue, my dog ate my homework, and so did the flu.'
• Instead of: 'Give me silly names.' Try: 'Give me silly names like: Bobby Buttercup, Sally Snickerdoodle, Max Marshmallow.'
• Instead of: 'Make it shorter.' Try: 'Make it shorter, like a tweet — only 20 words.'
• Instead of: 'Make a list.' Try: 'Make a list like this: 1. Buy bread. 2. Walk dog. 3. Brush teeth.'

Try it!

Ask AI to write a thank-you note. First just say 'Write a thank-you note.' Then try again with: 'Write a thank-you note like this: Dear Grandma, Thank you for the cookies. They were yummy. Love, Me.' See the difference?

AI and Using Examples: Show AI What You Want

The big idea

AI is great at copying patterns. If you show it one example of what you want, it can usually make more in the same style.

Some examples

• 'Like this: Cat — fluffy. Now do: Dog —'
• 'Make 5 silly names like: Captain Pizza, Doctor Spaghetti, Sir Dumpling.'
• 'Write riddles like: I have hands but no arms. What am I? (A clock)'
• 'Use the same style as this sentence I wrote.'

Try it!

Show AI one funny animal-superhero name you made up. Then ask for 5 more in the same style.

Here's why "AI and Using Examples: Show AI What You Want" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Help AI nail your answer by giving it an example to copy — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

• Learn what "examples" means and why it's important
• Learn what "model" means and why it's important
• Learn what "patterns" means and why it's important

1. Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
2. Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
3. Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity

Give AI an Example to Copy

The big idea

Did you know one example helps AI a lot? Instead of just describing what you want, show one. AI is great at copying patterns. This is called 'one-shot' prompting.

Some examples

• 'Write rhymes like this: cat-bat. Now: dog-?'
• Show one knock-knock joke and ask for 3 more.
• Paste one good email and say 'write me one like this'.
• Give one math example, ask AI to do the next.

Try it!

Write one silly sentence. Ask AI to make 3 more in the same style!

Here's why "Give AI an Example to Copy" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Show AI one example of what you want, and it copies the pattern — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

• Learn what "one-shot" means and why it's important
• Learn what "examples" means and why it's important
• Learn what "show don't tell" means and why it's important

1. Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
2. Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
3. Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity

Showing AI an Example Beats Just Telling It

The big idea

Words can be confusing. If you SHOW AI an example of what you want — like a sample sentence or list — it understands you way faster. This trick has a fancy name: 'few-shot prompting.'

Some examples

• Show one rhyming pair, then ask for 5 more.
• Paste one good summary, then ask AI to do the same for new text.
• Show a sample question and answer style you want.
• Give one good name idea, then ask AI for similar ones.

Try it!

Write one short rhyme. Paste it to AI and say 'Make 5 more like this.' See how well it copies your style.

Asking AI to Show an Example First

The big idea

When learning something new, ask AI for an example FIRST. It clicks faster than just rules.

Some examples

• 'Show me an example of a haiku before you explain it.'
• 'Give me one example of a fraction in real life.'
• 'Show one example of a polite email.'
• Real examples turn fuzzy ideas into clear ones.

Try it!

Ask AI: 'Show me one example of a metaphor before explaining what one is.' Did it click?

Here's why "Asking AI to Show an Example First" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Examples help you understand way faster than rules do — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

• Learn what "examples" means and why it's important
• Learn what "learning" means and why it's important
• Learn what "prompting" means and why it's important

1. Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
2. Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
3. Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity

Show AI an Example of What You Want

The big idea

If you want AI to write something a special way, paste an example first. AI is great at copying patterns.

Some examples

• Show 1 funny short poem. Then ask AI for 3 more like it.
• Show a sample joke style. Then ask AI to make jokes that way.
• Show how a class note looks. AI will format new notes the same way.
• 1 example is good. 2 or 3 examples are even better.

Try it!

Paste your favorite joke. Then ask AI to make 3 more jokes that match its style.

Paste the Article Before You Ask AI

The big idea

Don't ask AI 'What did this article say?' alone. Paste the article first, then ask. AI can only read what you give it.

Some examples

• Paste the news article, then ask 'Summarize in 3 bullets.'
• Paste a recipe, then ask 'What can I swap for eggs?'
• Paste a chapter, then ask 'Give me 5 quiz questions.'
• AI cannot read links or files unless they are pasted in.

Try it!

Copy a short kid news article. Paste it in chat and ask AI for 3 bullet summary.

Asking for Examples

The big idea

If AI gives an answer that sounds confusing, just say 'Show me an example!' AI loves examples. Asking for 3 of them is even better, because you get a few angles to learn from.

Some examples

• 'Give me 3 examples of metaphors.'
• 'Show me what a kind apology sounds like.'
• 'Make 2 examples of simple addition word problems.'
• 'Give me an example of an adjective in a sentence.'

Try it!

Pick a topic you find tricky. Ask AI for 3 examples. Pick the one that makes the most sense to you.