Slate AI is a Slate-savvy virtual assistant powered by a large language model (LLM). You can make requests of it on any page from the user menu sidebar.

If you’re staring at the blinking cursor and wondering what to ask it, use this article as a jumping off point.

What’s an LLM?

LLMs are generative AI constructs. They produce a response to a natural-language input, called a prompt.

Their response to a prompt, or output, is built out of tokens, a unit of text around 4 characters long. LLMs pick the next token of their response based on the statistical likelihood that it follows  the one before it.

Importantly, this output is not deterministic: you aren’t guaranteed the same output from identical prompts.

The basics of talking to your computer

While the specifics of your conversation with Slate AI depends on what you’re working on, there are general rules that apply in all circumstances:

Keep the conversation flowing

Slate AI remembers the overall context of your conversation.

You don’t need to reintroduce topics (unless you’re trying to change an existing requirement).

Give the AI structure

While you might be tempted to ask Slate AI open-ended requests, like “Build me an admitted students portal” or “Write a donor thank-you email,” and while these requests will almost always create something to work from, you’ll find the AI is better at following instruction than coming up with stuff on its own.

Providing a framework, like:

Write a welcome email to a prospective student. 

The email should include:

    - A personalized introduction based on the prospect's interests.
    - A schedule of upcoming campus events with links to register
    - Links to campus resources

The tone of the email should be professional, in keeping with our style guide. 

The more structure you give Slate AI, the easier it’ll be to iterate through drafts.

More structuring tips

• This is also a good place to lean on knowledge sources that you’ve supplied the AI (as with the style guide example).

• You can also ask Slate AI to create a framework for you, and then feed that framework right back as the prompt.

• Similarly, because of generative AI models’ propensity for trying new things, you may notice different outputs to similar (perhaps even identical) prompts. If you want Slate AI’s output to be consistent (as with a dashboard), tell the AI so.

Be aware of system instructions

Your Slate Administrator may have imposed certain constraints on Slate AI at a system level.

As with most AI models, when you ask Slate AI about its system prompt, it generally won’t tell you, but the nature of its responses may offer a hint:

Prompting for communications

When asking Slate AI to draft communications, provide it with clear guidance to align with your objectives.

Follow a systematic approach, adhering to the steps that follow to generate impactful interactions that resonate with recipients.

Step 1: Define Purpose, Audience, and Format

I need an email to inform prospective students about our upcoming open house event. 
The post should be engaging and suitable for platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

We need a social media post to raise awareness about our upcoming alumni networking event. 
The post should be engaging and suitable for platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, 
targeting recent graduates and established professionals.

Step 2: Identify Key Message and Structure

I want a concise message to convince current students to join our summer internship program.
Please structure the message with an introduction, two key benefits, and a closing statement.

We want a concise email to encourage donors to support our annual giving campaign. 
Please structure the message with a personalized greeting, highlight impactful stories 
of how donations have made a difference, and include a clear call to action to make a gift.

Step 3: Gather and Incorporate Relevant Information

We are launching a new degree program in computer science. 
Craft an email to inform enrolled students about the program details, admission requirements, 
and potential career opportunities.

We are launching a new scholarship program for underrepresented students. 
Craft an announcement letter to inform potential donors about the program's goals, 
eligibility criteria, and the impact their support can have on student success.

Step 4: Craft Engaging Content

Create a persuasive blog post to encourage alumni donations for our scholarship fund. 
Begin with an attention-grabbing opening, present impactful stories of past scholarship recipients, 
and end with a compelling call to action.

Create a heartfelt blog post to celebrate the achievements of our alumni community. 
Begin with a compelling introduction that showcases notable accomplishments. 
Highlight inspiring stories of alumni success and end with an appeal to stay connected 
and contribute to the growth of future graduates.

Step 5: Conclude with Call to Action and Review

We invite you to experience our vibrant campus community firsthand. 
Schedule a personalized campus tour to explore our state-of-the-art facilities, meet faculty members, and get a sense of campus life. 
Book your tour today to discover why our undergraduate psychology program is the perfect fit for your academic journey!

Make a gift today to support our research initiatives, scholarships, and campus renovations. 
Your contribution makes a lasting impact on the lives of our students and strengthens 
our institution's mission of excellence.