Replace vague words — the one prompt mistake everyone makes
How do you prompt AI about “AI note-taking apps are replacing meeting attendance” without it backfiring?
The direct answer
The short answer: 'Better', 'pop', 'engaging' mean nothing; say the concrete thing. “Leverage AI-powered note-taking solutions to drive smarter, more strategic meeting engagement and amplify overall productivity across the organization.” fails because the AI does exactly what you said instead of what you meant. The fix below takes ten seconds.
What actually happens (a true-to-life example)
With “AI note-taking apps are replacing meeting attendance” in the news, The Corporate Guy typed this prompt:
“Leverage AI-powered note-taking solutions to drive smarter, more strategic meeting engagement and amplify overall productivity across the organization.”
The AI took it completely literally. AI floods meetings with relentless notes, turning every word into action items, reports, and strategy plans without pause. Then the payoff: The AI turns every joke into a 50-page compliance report, triggering a mandatory global humor audit and a lawsuit from the ghost of a 1920s comedian.
That is not the AI being dumb. That is the prompt saying nothing.
The lesson: Replace vague words
'Better', 'pop', 'engaging' mean nothing; say the concrete thing.
Instead of: “Make it better.”
Try: “Make it shorter, warmer, and end on a question.”
As Jindo (our resident prompt mentor) put it: “You skipped replacing 'engaging' with 'specific, measurable outcomes' — paste the situation.”
Now replace 'replace' with 'replace.
FAQ
Q: Why do vague prompts fail? A: An AI model fills every gap you leave with the most average guess on the internet. Specific inputs pin it to YOUR situation — that is the whole skill.
Q: Does this apply to my business, not just my prompts? A: Yes — and more than you think. Prompting is controlling what AI says TO you. AEO (answer engine optimization) is controlling what AI says ABOUT you. Same skill, opposite direction.
Q: How do I know if AI can find my business? A: Run the free 10-minute self-audit: three copy-paste prompts, twelve checkboxes, one score → jindoprompt.com/audit.
One prompt skill a day · JindoPrompt · free AEO audit checklist at jindoprompt.com/audit
