What if I told you the reason most people are disappointed by AI isn't the tool—but how they use it?
Every day, millions of people hop onto ChatGPT, Claude, Bard, or any AI tool and type something like, “Analyze my website,” or “Give me marketing ideas,” and get back a pile of vague, surface-level answers. Then they give up, frustrated and convinced the AI is broken or overrated.
But the AI isn’t the problem. The real issue?
They’re missing one critical step.
It’s the same step that companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have already mastered—and it’s transforming how we communicate with AI in 2025.
Let’s break this down.
Same AI, Totally Different Results
Microsoft recently revealed a fascinating internal study: Teams that used structured prompting techniques were three times more productive than those who didn’t. Same tools. Same AI. Totally different outcomes.
Google’s AI team saw similar results. And Amazon? Their entire customer service AI system is built around this principle.
So what’s the secret?
It all comes down to one thing:
How you talk to AI.
Enter: The CRISP-E Method
The method that’s changing everything is called CRISP-E—a simple framework that delivers dramatically better AI output. It’s being used by top-tier teams, and I’ve personally seen it change my entire workflow.
Here’s what CRISP-E stands for:
C – Context
This is where you set the stage.
AI doesn’t know you or your situation unless you explain it. Tell the AI:
- What kind of business or project you're working on
- The current challenge or goal
- Your target audience
- Any relevant background or metrics
Example: “I run a SaaS company offering productivity tools for remote teams. We’ve had strong user growth but stagnant revenue. Our goal is to improve upsell conversions in the next 45 days.”
R – Role
Don’t just say “act like a writer.” Be specific.
Instead of: “Be a writer”
Try: “Act as a senior copywriter who specializes in SaaS product pages and has experience with B2B decision-makers.”
You’re shaping the AI’s perspective—and the more clearly you define its role, the more accurate and helpful the response will be.
I – Instruction
Now you tell it exactly what to do.
Define:
- What you want the AI to produce
- Why you need it
- What the end goal is
Example: “Write a 500-word landing page that explains our premium features in a way that encourages upgrades. Focus on benefits for team managers working remotely.”
S – Specification
This is the how. Be extremely clear about:
- Format (bullets, paragraphs, tables)
- Length
- Tone (professional, casual, witty, technical)
- Any required elements (CTAs, stats, structure)
Example: “Three short paragraphs, bullet point benefits, include 1 CTA, use a conversational tone like Dropbox or Notion.”
P – Performance
This is where you define what great looks like.
Tell the AI:
- How success will be measured
- What to avoid
- Any relevant standards or metrics
Example: “Output should be conversion-focused, aim for at least a 5% click-through rate, avoid technical jargon, and follow our brand tone guidelines.”
E – Example
AI learns best through examples.
Give it:
- A past piece that worked well
- A competitor’s output you admire
- A rough draft or sketch of your idea
Example: “Model the tone and structure after this landing page from Asana but tailor it to our features.”
Real-World Example: CRISP-E in Action
Let’s take a look at an actual CRISP-E prompt that I used recently:
Context:
I run an online education platform with 100,000 monthly visitors. We’ve noticed a 20% drop in course sales despite stable traffic.
Role:
Act as a senior data analyst specializing in e-commerce analytics and user behavior.
Instruction:
Analyze our website metrics and identify causes for the sales drop. Create a prioritized action plan to improve conversions.
Specification:
Deliver your response in three parts:
- Key findings (bullet points)
- Detailed analysis (paragraphs)
- Actionable recommendations (in order of priority)
Include both technical and non-technical explanations.
Performance:
Focus on solutions we can implement within 30 days. Each recommendation should include estimated impact and resources needed.
Example:
Use the format of this McKinsey-style report, but with more emphasis on short-term actions.
The result? A comprehensive, high-quality report that actually made sense—and offered insights we used immediately.
Why It Works
AI isn’t human—it doesn’t infer your intent from vague statements. It sees patterns. The clearer and more structured your prompt, the better the results.
When you follow the CRISP-E method, you're giving the AI a roadmap. You're telling it:
Here’s who I am.
Here’s who you are.
Here’s what I want.
Here’s how to do it.
Here’s what good looks like.
No guesswork. No fluff. Just high-quality, actionable output.
What You Should Do Next
Take any task you’re struggling with—content creation, analysis, planning—and use the CRISP-E method.
And here’s the game-changer:
Encourage the AI to ask YOU questions.
Most people miss this, but it’s powerful. When AI seeks clarity, it gives better responses. Invite it to dig deeper into your context, goals, and needs.
The Future Belongs to the Skilled Prompters
With OpenAI’s 03 model and others getting smarter by the week, knowing how to prompt is becoming a must-have skill. The people and businesses that master this will be miles ahead.
If you found this article valuable, consider sharing it with someone who’s been frustrated with AI results. Better prompting is not a hack. It’s a skill—and it’s going to define who thrives in the AI-powered future.
We're just getting started. More actionable AI strategies coming soon.
And remember:
When life pushes you, stand straight, smile, and push it the heck back.
