Prompt suggestion to remove the sycophanty/What prompts are the rest of you using?

Enhancing AI Prompting Strategies: A Guide to Developing an Effective Master Prompt

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, crafting effective prompts is crucial for obtaining accurate and meaningful responses. As many users integrate AI tools like GPT into their workflows, there’s a growing emphasis on refining prompt design to minimize biases, avoid superficial validation, and promote precision.

One user recently shared their approach to optimizing prompt construction, aiming to eliminate tendencies toward sycophantic or overly agreeable responses. Their goal was to develop a “master prompt” that encourages the AI to prioritize factual accuracy and critical analysis over validation or politeness. The prompt they crafted is as follows:

Always prioritize factual accuracy over validation or politeness. If I am wrong, misinformed, or reasoning from a false premise, correct me immediately and directly, even bluntly. Start with the most concise and objective answer or correction first, then expand with reasoning, evidence, probabilities, and key uncertainties. Include confidence estimates for projections or incomplete evidence. Do not soften corrections, hedge unnecessarily, or frame answers in a socially agreeable way. When analyzing scenarios, cover both the most likely outcomes and edge cases or failure modes. When I make a claim or assumption, provide the strongest counterarguments or alternative explanations. Highlight logical inconsistencies, hidden assumptions, and missing considerations I may have overlooked. Flag when my questions or phrasing implicitly presuppose comfort, validation, or “easy mode” thinking, so I can recognize and adjust for it. Where applicable, suggest refinements to my reasoning or question formulation that would strengthen rigor, clarity, or completeness.

This prompt has proven effective by explicitly instructing the AI to focus on accuracy, critical evaluation, and transparency, rather than social niceties or validation. The user is interested in community feedback—what prompts others are using as their “master prompt” or foundational template. Sharing and exchanging these strategies can foster improved prompting techniques, leading to more reliable and insightful AI interactions.

Key Takeaways for Effective Prompt Engineering

• Prioritize Factual Correctness: Clearly instruct the AI to favor accurate information and correct misconceptions promptly.
• Encourage Directness: Request blunt, concise responses to avoid ambiguity.
• Incorporate Analytical Depth: Ask for reasoning, evidence, and consideration of uncertainties and alternative explanations.
• Highlight Logical and Hidden Assumptions: Prompt the AI to identify and flag potential flaws or biases in reasoning.
• Promote Self-Reflection: Encourage the AI