writing

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The Rise of the AI Prompt Engineer: A New Frontier in Tech Careers and for Aspiring Writers

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize industries, a new type of role has emerged in the tech world: the AI Prompt Engineer. These professionals play a pivotal role in guiding AI systems, such as OpenAI’s GPT, to generate useful, coherent, and contextually appropriate outputs. While this job may sound futuristic, it is already here and growing in demand, offering an exciting career path for those interested in the convergence of language, machine learning, and creativity.

So, what is a prompt engineer? At its core, an AI prompt engineer designs and refines inputs—known as “prompts”—to generate the most relevant and useful responses from AI systems. Unlike traditional programming, where developers write lines of code to achieve a desired result, prompt engineering involves crafting well-structured sentences or questions that lead AI models to produce accurate, meaningful, or creative responses.

AI models, like GPT-4, are trained on vast datasets, but they rely on prompts to understand the user’s intent and deliver results. A well-crafted prompt can yield exactly what’s needed, whether it’s a detailed technical explanation, a creative piece of writing, or solving complex problems. Prompt engineers bridge the gap between what the AI knows and what users need, fine-tuning inputs to optimize outcomes.

AI prompt engineers often work alongside software developers, product managers, and content creators to align AI outputs with business goals. They may also collaborate with data scientists to analyze the AI’s performance and recommend further model training or adjustments.

Becoming an AI prompt engineer doesn’t necessarily require a traditional software engineering background, though it certainly helps. Here are some key skills and qualifications that can be valuable in this role:

Strong Linguistic Abilities: Since the job is fundamentally about crafting language inputs, strong written and verbal communication skills are essential. Understanding semantics, syntax, and tone is crucial when working with language models.

Understanding of AI and Machine Learning: A background in AI or machine learning is valuable, especially when it comes to understanding how models like GPT are trained and the types of tasks they can perform.

Problem-Solving Skills: AI prompt engineers need to be adept problem solvers who can experiment with different approaches, analyze results, and optimize their prompts iteratively.

Creative Thinking: This role requires creativity, especially when developing prompts for open-ended or artistic applications. Whether it’s writing stories, developing characters, or simulating conversations, creative thinking is a key asset.

Curiosity and Adaptability: AI is a fast-evolving field, so staying current with the latest advances in AI models, prompt techniques, and best practices is essential.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into various industries, the role of the prompt engineer is poised to grow. This job is already being likened to the early days of web design or mobile app development, where a new technology created a wave of specialized roles. Companies that deploy AI-powered products and services, from startups to tech giants, are on the lookout for professionals who can maximize the potential of AI systems.

Moreover, as AI becomes more capable and sophisticated, the need for skilled professionals who understand how to communicate with these systems will become even more critical. The field of prompt engineering will likely evolve alongside advancements in AI, incorporating more complex tasks, automation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The job of an AI prompt engineer is a fascinating blend of language, technology, and problem-solving. For those interested in shaping the future of AI, this role offers a dynamic and evolving career path. As businesses continue to adopt AI systems to drive efficiency and innovation, prompt engineers will be at the forefront of making these systems effective, reliable, and aligned with human needs.

REVIEWING MEDIA FOR A LIVING: THE DREAM JOB

Do you ever watch a show and say “this is great, and I can pinpoint exactly why I love it”? Do you ever play a video game and say “this is awful,” and rant to your friends about the things you dislike? Well, consider putting that on paper! If you feel you have strong opinions on media, and you can write well, becoming a media reviewer of some kind might just be the job for you. There are two main types of media reviewing: TV/Movies and video games.

For video game reviewing, there are many sites that are almost always hiring, like Polygon, GameSpot, and IGN. Most accept freelance gigs and you can get your work put up on their website, and maybe a job opportunity can come through that. Otherwise, you can be hired as an editor. Freelance work, of course, is remote, but if you get to work as an editor, you likely will have to relocate. Polygon is based in New York, and IGN is based in Los Angeles. IGN is constantly hiring and have job postings up near perpetually (in both Los Angeles and New York offices). Since Polygon is owned by Vox, there are job openings on LazyApply and others (looking them up on Google doesn’t hurt… just look up “Polygon careers Vox” and they’ll pop up). And finally, GameSpot has jobs up currently on WellFound, and you can be remote or work in San Francisco.

To review movies, there are typically not many websites dedicated to just movie reviews. The New York Times, Variety, and the aforementioned Polygon and IGN all have OpEd writers dedicated to talking about film and TV shows. However, two big, modern sites dedicated exclusively to TV and movies are Screen Rant and DiscussingFilm. It appears that positions with DiscussingFilm are entirely remote, and to apply for a job there, you have to DM them on Twitter to ask if there is anything open… and Screen Rant, while based in Canada, has offices in Canada, the United States, and even the United Kingdom, and has their job postings up on their main site.

If you’re interested in the next level, and you have some experience in video production (that’s putting it very professionally, but maybe you just like making videos), you may have a place in creating videos for their YouTube pages as a producer. Job listings are the same as mentioned before, and if you like reviewing media and creating content, and you could start a YouTube channel where you do just that!

To be a reviewer requires writing experience and working for The Lawrentian would be a great place to get that experience. You don’t need to have a specific major to get involved. Just as long as you have interest and motivation in the subject, and your work is good, you have a good shot at getting involved!

WORKS CITED:
Screen Rant Careers!
Sample GameSpot Job!
Polygon Jobs!
IGN Careers!

Spencer R. Brown is a senior in their second year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as the Career Peer Educator for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities in the Career Center. A writer and animator by trade, they are fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!

What is Grant Writing?

By Lauren A. James-Spielman

Have you ever wondered how nonprofits and charities get the funds they need to complete their projects? Grants are given to these organizations by donors to support their missions of activism and social change. Grant Writers, therefore, play a vital role in the nonprofit and local community realm, using clear and specific language to persuade the reader of a grant application to provide the funds needed for potentially life-changing projects to come to fruition. Because of the wide range of programs, those who decide to pursue the path of grant writing can work in fields that are meaningful to them, including immigration, housing, food inequity, social justice, and more.

Grant writing is no easy task, but it does typically follow the same format. Those providing the grant (Grantmakers) will have specific rules that may differ from one another, but they will always want to see the following:

  • A short summary of your proposal that lays out the problem you are solving
  • The plan for the work you intend to carry out
  • A broad outline of the budget, distinguishing direct and indirect costs
  • The qualifications and experience of those carrying out this project

Despite the job title, there’s more to grant writing than just writing. In order to begin the process of developing a grant, extensive research is necessary to make your proposal as comprehensive as possible. This includes researching the impact of your project, the projects of adjacent organizations, related grants that have been accepted in recent years, and that only scratches the surface. It doesn’t just end with the grant itself, either. Tracking the progress and success of a grant makes it possible for other grants to be made for both your own organization and for others in the field who hope to also receive funding.

If you’re interested in becoming a grant writer, you’re already off to a great start if you’re enrolled here at Lawrence! Most positions require a bachelor’ degree, and majoring in a relevant field like English, creative writing, or any major that helps develop your writing skills can lay a strong foundation. However, the best way to begin grant writing is to get experience. Many organizations are looking for volunteers to help with their grant writing, so researching your local nonprofits can help you begin your journey and develop valuable connections.

Works Cited:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/grant_writing/index.html

https://www.gcu.edu/blog/language-communication/what-grant-writer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_writing

Content Creators

By Lauren James-Spielman

Depending on who you ask, content creation can equate to entirely different things, from a seasoned journalist to a bombastic YouTuber. Many of us wish we could make a living through live streaming and uploading videos, and while most won’t, it is completely possible to apply those same skills to a more traditional job. As long as you are producing and sharing information or media content for specific audiences, you are a content creator!

With this in mind, let’s explore some of the various content creation opportunities in the workplace:

Social Media Managers: Keeping up to date on the latest trends and applying them to a company’s social media pages is an essential part of branding and exposure. Social Media Managers create content that is creative with fun and innovative posts that encourage audiences to engage with your content.

Content Writers: Every company needs writers to clearly explain their products, persona, and values. Blog posts, articles, and newsletters are often the most informative ways a company communicates with their audience.

Graphic Designers: Logos, illustrations, and photographs all capture the image of a company when you think about them in your mind. Developing a balance of creativity and professionalism is the key to maintaining a company’s reputation, which is why graphic designers are so vital.

Audio Content Creators: The audio aspect of content creation has a wide range of options, including podcasting, music creation, and voice acting. Being the literal voice of a company makes it vital to curate your tone and energy accordingly.

If you’re worried about the amount of experience you have, creating content for yourself or others through gig work is one of the easiest ways to add to your portfolio! Don’t be afraid to explore and try new things in Photoshop, Canva, or various image, audio, and video editing programs to create your own content on topics that interest you.

One of the best places to complete quick jobs is UpWork, a gig-based job seeking site with new opportunities being posted every week! Browsing through their various openings may also give you ideas as to what kind of content you want to make.

Works Cited:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_creation
https://www.upwork.com/freelance-jobs/content-creation/
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/graphic-designers.htm