How to Unlock the Power of Chat through Advanced Prompting
By Jackie Guilbault, Senior Product Marketing Manager
In the fast-paced world of construction, getting the right answers at the right time can make all the difference between a project running smoothly and one that encounters costly delays or legal complications. With the advent of advanced AI tools like Document Crunch's Chat, project teams now have the power to get instant, tailored answers to their specific contract-related questions. But to truly leverage this technology, it's crucial to learn the art of effective prompting.
In this blog post, we'll explore how project teams can use effective prompting to navigate complex contracts, streamline their workflows, and ensure compliance. By combining insights from prompt engineering strategies and practical examples from the construction industry, we'll provide actionable tips that will empower your team to ask the right questions and get the answers they need.
Why Effective Prompting Matters
The construction industry is rife with challenges, from interpreting intricate contract provisions to ensuring that all project stakeholders are aligned. AI tools like Document Crunch's Chat are designed to support project teams with a basis in construction and legal expertise to provide quick, reliable answers based on the specific knowledge of your contracts. However, to get the most out of these tools, it's essential to ask pointed, detailed questions that are closely tied to the document with which you're working.
5 Key Strategies for Effective Prompting
1. Write Clear and Specific Instructions
Vague questions can lead to incomplete or irrelevant answers because the more general the question, the more answers that could apply. If you asked someone to get you “bread” at the store without any other information, expecting them to come back with the right brand and type you meant would be unrealistic. Apply that same principle to prompting. Instead of asking, "What are my obligations?" try specifying your role and providing more context. For example, ask: "What are the subcontractor's obligations for liquidated damages in this contract?" This level of detail ensures that Chat provides a precise and relevant response.
2. Leverage Context and Details
When working with contracts, it's better to have relevant details in your query. For example, instead of asking, "What happens if there's a delay?" you could ask, "What remedies does the Contractor have in the event of a weather delay according to the contract?" This not only specifies for Chat what specific delay you are interested in, but also ensures the response is directly applicable to your current situation.
3. Adopt the Right Perspective
The construction industry often involves multiple stakeholders, each with different responsibilities and risks. When asking questions, try to specify the perspective from which you're inquiring. For instance, instead of asking, "Can work be stopped?" clarify whether you're asking as the Contractor or Subcontractor. For example, ask: " What are the ways a subcontractor may stop work according to the contract?"
4. Provide Reference Text and Context
If you're asking Chat to brainstorm ideas for redlining or summarizing specific areas, including the relevant text from the contract, along with a description of the “ideal state” when appropriate, will lead to a more accurate response. For example, "Reword this indemnity clause to favor the Contractor: [Insert Clause]." This allows Chat to focus on the specific language you need help with and get an idea of where you want to go. Keep in mind the outputs (especially for contracts!) should still be vetted by human eyes before integrating them into the contract.
5. Break Down Complex Tasks
For delivery-based tasks like drafting a notice letter or summarizing multiple sections of a contract, break the task into simpler subtasks. For instance, instead of asking Chat to "Draft a notice letter," you might say, "Draft a notice letter for delay due to inclement weather that complies with the notice requirements." Another great use of Chat is to confirm the details of when notices are required and how they should be transmitted. It’s always best not to assume the requirements are all the same!
Effective prompting is the key to unlocking the full potential of AI tools in the construction industry. By asking the right questions, providing relevant context, and breaking down tasks into manageable steps, your project team can get the precise answers they need to stay compliant, minimize risks, and keep projects on track.