In the past, when reading a book, tutorial, or other technical material, encountering a difficult concept could be like hitting a wall. The only way forward was often to ask an expert for help. Today, with AI, we can access expert-level assistance nearly instantly, without the challenges of getting help from a real person. When you encounter something you don’t understand, ask AI. If its answer introduces another unfamiliar idea, ask further. Learning this way can be remarkably effective.

Consistent with the fundamentals of Prompt Engineering, when requesting assistance from a virtual assistant, be as clear as possible about what you do understand and do not understand. If relevant, include the exact text that you do not understand. If possible, explain what you want explained.

Also, be skeptical. Virtual assistants can misunderstand and can even make mistakes.

There are many possible techniques that also might help. You can ask a virtual assistant for relevant other techniques. You can ask for explanations in other forms (such as analogies or step-by-step breakdowns). You can ask the virtual assistant to respond using a specific persona.