[Digital Today reporter Lee Yun-seo] It is an era in which answers differ depending on how a question is asked. Anthropic’s Claude has also drawn attention recently, and is seen as delivering more creative and sophisticated answers when users input more specific prompts. On March 12, IT outlet TechRadar compiled five ways to use prompts to make better use of Claude.

First, Claude shows strength in using metaphors to unpack complex concepts in an easy-to-understand way. In response to a request such as, “Explain how blockchain works by comparing it to pizza delivery and pirates,” it described a setup in which pizza delivery workers simultaneously write down order details in their own notebooks, explaining how transaction records are shared in a distributed way and how any attempt to change them is immediately exposed because it does not match other records. It then described how each notebook page contains a secret code linked to the previous page, likening it to a pirate captain’s treasure log to explain how blocks connect to prevent tampering.

Second, it is also strong at explaining complex topics such as economics in simple terms. In response to a request such as, “Explain inflation with metaphors to a curious teenager as a retired economics professor,” it did not list definitions of monetary policy. Instead, it explained how inflation works through a story about neighborhood bakery prices gradually rising as demand increases. It then used examples such as supermarket prices and a teenager’s weekly allowance to explain weakening purchasing power and the declining value of fixed income.

Third, assigning roles can maximize its storytelling ability. In response to a request such as, “Have a historian from 2100 explain the rise of social media like an ancient civilization,” it framed social media platforms as competing digital city-states, algorithms as invisible bureaucrats, and influencers as a merchant class trading attention. It explained, in a narrative way, the structure and mood of the social media era and the paradox of loneliness amid connection.

Fourth, fictional conversations can be used to explore different perspectives. In response to a request such as, “Write a scene in which Albert Einstein and Isaac Asimov talk about artificial intelligence at a bar,” it contrasted Einstein’s view that calculation alone cannot reach wisdom with Asimov’s view of AI as a partner in discovery. Through their dialogue, it captured both expectations and wariness about technology, ultimately linking to the message that what matters is human judgment rather than machines.

Fifth, Claude is strong at structured analysis. In response to a request such as, “Explain, by table-of-contents headings, why Netflix succeeded while Blockbuster failed,” Claude organized its answer by items such as differences in how they viewed technology, business models, corporate culture and structural limits of offline stores. It logically pointed to how Netflix viewed technology as central to its business, while Blockbuster saw it as an ancillary element attached to its existing offline store business, as a key reason it failed to shift to streaming.

To maximize Claude’s strengths, it is important to set roles, situations and frames in specific terms rather than simply asking a question. The clearer the context, the greater the depth and completeness of the answer. To draw out AI’s potential properly, it is necessary to state not only what you are asking but also what perspective and format you want in the response.