AI has long been predicted to create numerous jobs across various industries. However, a recent study by researchers at VMware suggests that AI may actually eliminate one job that everyone thought it would create – prompt engineering.
The researchers found that large language models (LLMs) are capable of writing and optimizing their own prompts, a task that was traditionally done by prompt engineers. The study, titled The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Eccentric Automatic Prompts, aimed to quantify the impact of positive thinking prompts on AI tools.
According to the researchers, prompts written with positivity or optimism can sometimes yield better quality results from generative AI tools. However, they found that asking an LLM to optimize the prompts itself, known as automatically generated prompts, is more effective and less time-consuming than hand-tuned prompts.
Furthermore, the researchers cited another study by a Google DeepMind researcher, Chengrun Yang, who found that an LLM can outperform human-designed prompts. The researchers at VMware also noted that LLMs can be quite creative in producing the best prompts, with one example resembling dialogue from a Star Trek episode.
While tools like ChatGPT already automatically change a user’s prompt to produce the best output data, some experts believe that prompt engineering jobs won’t be immediately eliminated. Tim Cramer, senior vice president of software engineering at Red Hat, emphasized the ongoing need for human involvement in the evolving generative AI industry.
In conclusion, while AI may indeed revolutionize prompt engineering, the role of humans in the process remains crucial. As the landscape of generative AI continues to evolve rapidly, prompt engineers may need to adapt to new ways of working alongside AI technologies.
This shift in the industry raises questions about the future of prompt engineering jobs and the overall impact of AI on the workforce. Only time will tell how these developments will shape the future of AI technology and its interaction with human professionals.
