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Chapter 1.1: Zero-Shot Prompting

What is zero-shot prompting?

Zero-shot prompting is the simplest way to use AI: you give one clear instruction without providing examples. The AI relies only on your wording to produce an answer.

This is a great technique when:
- You want quick results without much setup.
- The task is straightforward and self-explanatory.
- You’re exploring what the AI can do before refining further.

Best practices

Even though zero-shot prompts are simple, you can still improve them by applying the six building blocks:

  • Task – State clearly what you want done.
  • Context – Add background information when needed.
  • Audience – Mention who the result is for.
  • Format – Ask for bullet points, a table, or a summary.
  • Tone – Indicate style (formal, concise, friendly).

Example 1: Meeting summary

Summarize this interdisciplinary research meeting for an internal memo to the data management team.
Focus on the methodological approach for microbiome analysis, the identified taxonomic groups of interest, limitations in computational resources, risks around seasonal variation in sampling, and potential collaborations with external partners.
Deliver the actions in a table with columns for Action, Responsible person, Deadline, and Dependencies.

This single instruction already guides the AI to create a useful, structured output.

Example 2: Grant proposal feedback

Assess my research proposal for alignment with EU biodiversity policy objectives and Horizon Europe mission goals, particularly regarding nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. The proposal targets a €2M consortium call where industry partnership is mandatory, and demonstrable societal impact within 5 years is a key evaluation criterion.

By specifying the task, context, and audience, you turn a vague request into focused feedback.

Key takeaway

Zero-shot prompting works best when your instruction is precise and specific. The more clearly you describe what you need, the better the result — even without examples.

⬅ Back to Chapter 1: The Basics | ➡ Next: Few-Shot Prompting

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