Few-shot prompting

ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers

Fouad Trad

Machine Learning Engineer

Few-shot prompting

Model provided with examples (question-answer pairs)

A visual representation of a few-shot prompt showing its structure with example questions and answers, and finally the question we want the model to answer.

Few-shot prompting

Model provided with examples (question-answer pairs)

A visual diagram showing how we send a few-shot prompt to the LLM.

Few-shot prompting

Model provided with examples (question-answer pairs)

A visual diagram showing how we send a few-shot prompt to the LLM and get an answer in return.

Few-shot prompting

Model provided with examples (question-answer pairs)

A visual diagram showing how we send a few-shot prompt to the LLM and get an answer in return.

Number of examples:
- Zero -> zero-shot prompting
- One -> one-shot prompting
- More than one -> few-shot prompting

Zero-shot prompting

Providing a prompt without examples
Model generates responses based on its knowledge
Ideal for quick and uncomplicated tasks

prompt = "What is prompt engineering?"
print(get_response(prompt))

Prompt engineering refers to designing and refining prompts or instructions given 
to a language model like ChatGPT to elicit desired responses or behaviors. It 
involves formulating specific guidelines or hints to guide the model's output 
towards a desired outcome.

One-shot prompting

Provide the model a single example
Useful for consistent formatting or style

prompt =  """ 
Q: Sum the numbers 3, 5, and 6. A: 3+5+6=14
Q: Sum the numbers 2, 4, and 7. A: 
"""
print(get_response(prompt))

2+4+7=13

One-shot prompting

prompt = """
Q: Sum the numbers 3, 5, and 6. A: The sum of 3, 5, and 6 is 14
Q: Sum the numbers 2, 4, and 7. A: 
"""
print(get_response(prompt))

The sum of 2, 4, and 7 is 13

Few-shot prompting

Provide more than one example
Powerful for contextual tasks

prompt = """
Text: Today the weather is fantastic -> Classification: positive
Text: The furniture is small -> Classification: neutral
Text: I don't like your attitude -> Classification: negative

"""

Few-shot prompting

Provide more than one example
Powerful for contextual tasks

prompt = """
Text: Today the weather is fantastic -> Classification: positive
Text: The furniture is small -> Classification: neutral
Text: I don't like your attitude -> Classification: negative
Text: That shot selection was awful -> Classification: 
"""
print(get_response(prompt))

negative

Few-shot prompting with a chat model

response = client.chat.completions.create(
  model = "gpt-3.5-turbo",

  messages = [{"role": "user",
             "content": "Today the weather is fantastic"},

             {"role": "assistant",
             "content": "positive"},

              {"role": "user",
             "content": "I don't like your attitude"},
              {"role": "assistant",
             "content": "negative"},

              {"role": "user",
             "content": "That shot selection was awful"}
             ],
  temperature = 0
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

negative

Considerations

Choose number of shots according to task complexity
- Fewer shots -> basic tasks
- Diverse shots -> complex tasks

An image showing a person questioning themselves.

Let's practice!

ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers