---
title: "Meta-Prompting using Advanced Prompting Techiques"
source: Panaversity Learn Agentic AI
source_url: https://github.com/panaversity/learn-agentic-ai
licence: Apache-2.0
domain: agentic-ai
subdomain: panaversity-agentic
date_added: 2026-04-25
---

# Meta-Prompting using Advanced Prompting Techiques

### Meta-Prompting Tutorial: AI Prompts that Write Prompts

[A Complete Guide to Meta Prompting](https://www.prompthub.us/blog/a-complete-guide-to-meta-prompting)

[Watch: You’ll NEVER Need Prompt Engineering Again with Meta-Prompting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgBVHj9DXXY)

[Watch: Meta Prompting with o1, o1 Pro Mode, and ChatGPT Pro (Compute on Compute)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZGb9-Z9DG0)

Below is a step-by-step tutorial that shows you **how to use ChatGPT to create prompts using ChatGPT** itself. This method is often referred to as “meta-prompting” because you’re using the model to help you craft better instructions (prompts) for the model.


Below is a **step-by-step guide** for how to use ChatGPT to *create* prompts by *talking to ChatGPT itself*. In other words, you’ll learn how to ask ChatGPT to help you *generate* or *refine* the exact prompts you want to use—either for ChatGPT again or for other AI tools. This is what we typically mean by "**meta-prompting**" in the context of **How to Use ChatGPT to Create Prompts Using ChatGPT**.

---

## 1. Understanding the Concept

1. **What is a “Prompt”?**  
   A prompt is any instruction or question you give to ChatGPT to get a desired response—such as “Explain how photosynthesis works,” or “Write a short story about a detective who solves a mystery using math.”  

2. **What is “Meta-Prompting”?**  
   - Meta-prompting is asking ChatGPT to **help you craft** a prompt.  
   - It’s like saying: “ChatGPT, please give me the instructions I can use to get a very specific kind of answer from you.”  
   - In other words, you’re asking ChatGPT to *create or refine* the perfect prompt for your goal.

---

## 2. Why Meta-Prompt?

1. **Precision:** You can get more accurate, focused answers if you start with a carefully crafted prompt.  
2. **Consistency:** If you want a certain format, tone, or style, you can ask ChatGPT to create a prompt that clearly states these requirements.  
3. **Efficiency:** Instead of guessing how to phrase your request, you can outsource the phrasing to ChatGPT itself.

---

## 3. Simple Example of Meta-Prompting

### Example Conversation

**You:**  
> “ChatGPT, I want to create a prompt that makes you produce a friendly, three-paragraph introduction to a fantasy story. Please write that prompt for me.”

**ChatGPT might respond:**  
> “Here’s a sample prompt you could use:  
> *‘Write a friendly, three-paragraph introduction to a fantasy story featuring a brave explorer, a hidden forest village, and a magical creature. Keep the language accessible and engaging for teenagers.’*”

Now, ChatGPT has given you a **prompt** (“Write a friendly three-paragraph introduction...”), which you can then copy/paste back into ChatGPT or another AI to get the desired result.

---

## 4. Step-by-Step Tutorial

### Step 1: State Your Goal

- Clearly tell ChatGPT what kind of prompts you need it to generate.  
- Examples:  
  - “I want a prompt for an essay on climate change.”  
  - “I need a prompt that will make the AI generate a list of creative dessert recipes.”  
  - “Help me write a prompt that makes ChatGPT summarize a scientific article in 200 words.”

### Step 2: Describe the Format or Style

- Do you need a formal tone? A casual tone? A bullet-point structure?  
- Let ChatGPT know this, so it can incorporate it into the generated prompt.  
- Example: “Please create a prompt that requests a formal style with bullet points.”

### Step 3: Ask ChatGPT to Generate or Refine the Prompt

- Once ChatGPT knows your goal and preferred style, ask it:  
  > “Write the exact prompt I should give to ChatGPT to get the result I want.”  
- ChatGPT will produce something like:  
  > “Write a formal, bullet-point proposal for a new recycling program in our city, including cost estimates, timeline, and impact.”

### Step 4: Test the Prompt

- Copy the generated prompt and paste it back into ChatGPT (or another AI tool) to see if it works as intended.  
- If the results are not what you expected, ask ChatGPT to refine or adjust the prompt.

### Step 5: Iterate and Improve

- If the response is too long, too short, or not in the right tone, go back and ask ChatGPT to tweak the prompt.  
- Example: “That was good, but please shorten the prompt to 20 words or fewer and make it more casual.”

---

## 5. Example Walkthrough

Let’s imagine you want a **prompt** that asks ChatGPT to write a poem about space exploration in the style of Dr. Seuss.

1. **Tell ChatGPT Your Goal:**  
   > “ChatGPT, I’d like you to create a prompt for ChatGPT to write a whimsical poem about space exploration in the style of Dr. Seuss.”

2. **Add Details:**  
   > “I want the poem to be silly, use rhymes, and be around 12 lines long.”

3. **Ask ChatGPT to Generate the Prompt:**  
   > “Please provide me with a single, clearly worded prompt that includes these requirements.”

4. **Possible ChatGPT Response:**  
   > “Here’s a potential prompt:  
   > *‘Write a whimsical, Dr. Seuss-style poem about space exploration that is around 12 lines long, uses playful rhymes, and captures the excitement of astronauts traveling among the stars.’*”

5. **Use the Prompt:**  
   - Now copy/paste that exact prompt back into ChatGPT (or another AI) and see what poem it creates.  
   - If it’s not perfect, you can return to ChatGPT and say, “Make it 16 lines” or “Include details about Mars,” etc.

---

## 6. Advanced Techniques

1. **Multi-step Meta-Prompting**  
   - You can ask ChatGPT to generate several *different* prompts and then help you pick the best one.  
   - **Example:** “ChatGPT, generate three different prompts for writing a short story about friendship—one formal, one casual, and one humorous. Then explain which one you think will produce the most interesting story.”

2. **Self-Critique or Self-Improvement**  
   - You can ask ChatGPT to *evaluate its own prompts* and suggest improvements.  
   - **Example:**  
     > 1. “Write a prompt that requests a formal essay on the importance of recycling.”  
     > 2. “Now critique that prompt and offer two alternative prompts that might yield even better responses.”

3. **Prompt-Template Creation**  
   - Ask ChatGPT to create a *template* that you can reuse multiple times.  
   - **Example:**  
     > “Provide a prompt template for writing a product review. It should be adaptable for different products, include a paragraph about features, a paragraph about pros/cons, and a conclusion. Mention placeholders like [PRODUCT NAME], [FEATURES], etc.”

---

## 7. Tips & Pitfalls

1. **Be Clear and Specific:**  
   - The more precise your initial request, the better the generated prompt will be.  
   - If you’re vague, ChatGPT’s prompt might also be vague.

2. **Iterate Often:**  
   - Don’t expect a perfect prompt on the first try. ChatGPT thrives on feedback and updates.

3. **Watch Out for Over-Complexity:**  
   - Sometimes, too many instructions in a single meta-prompt can confuse the model. Keep it straightforward and build complexity step by step.

4. **Keep It Organized:**  
   - If you’re giving ChatGPT multiple steps (like “Generate a prompt, then critique it, then rewrite it”), use numbered lists or bullet points so ChatGPT can follow along easily.

---

## 8. Putting It All Together

**Meta-prompting** is a way to use ChatGPT as both the *question* and *answer* generator. You harness ChatGPT’s own language skills to craft high-quality prompts. This process can dramatically improve the clarity and precision of the results you get—whether you’re writing stories, essays, code, recipes, or anything else.

### Quick Recap

1. **Tell ChatGPT** what kind of prompt you need (subject, style, length, tone).  
2. **Ask ChatGPT** to write *the actual prompt* you should copy/paste.  
3. **Refine and iterate** until you’re satisfied with the final prompt.  
4. **Use that final prompt** on ChatGPT (or another AI) to get the result you want.

Now, you have the power to create powerful prompts with ChatGPT’s help—simply by telling ChatGPT *how* to help you!


---

## Alternative Meta-Prompting Tutorial


## 1. Introduction

**Why create prompts using ChatGPT?**  
- **Efficiency**: Quickly generate well-structured prompts without manually brainstorming every detail.  
- **Creativity**: Tap into ChatGPT’s capacity to suggest unique angles or frameworks.  
- **Iterative Improvement**: Easily refine prompts until you get exactly what you need.  

**What you’ll learn in this tutorial:**  
1. Defining your goal or objective for the prompt.  
2. Giving ChatGPT initial instructions or outlines.  
3. Iterating through multiple versions with feedback.  
4. Finalizing and testing your prompts.

---

## 2. Defining Your Prompt’s Goal

Before asking ChatGPT to generate a prompt, you need clarity about the **intended output** or **target audience**:

1. **Identify the Context**:  
   - Example: “I need to create a writing exercise for students learning creative writing.”  
   - Or: “I want a prompt for a business plan in the AI sector.”

2. **Pinpoint the Format/Scope**:  
   - Do you need a short open-ended question, a multi-step task, or a detailed scenario?  
   - Example: “I need a prompt that asks for a 500-word blog post” versus “I need a prompt for a four-step marketing plan.”

3. **Determine the Tone**:  
   - Formal, casual, technical, or entertaining?  
   - Example: “Professional tone” vs. “Friendly, upbeat tone.”

Having these details in mind will make it easier to direct ChatGPT to produce relevant prompts.

---

## 3. Crafting an Initial Meta-Prompt

A meta-prompt is the prompt you give ChatGPT to generate your **actual** prompt. Let’s walk through an example:

1. **Start Simple**  
   - Provide ChatGPT with a brief overview of your needs.  
   - Example Query to ChatGPT:  
     \[
       \text{"I want to create a detailed prompt that asks users to write a 500-word }\newline
       \text{essay on the importance of environmental conservation, in a friendly, }\newline
       \text{informative tone. Could you help me craft that prompt?"}
     \]

2. **Check the Output**  
   - ChatGPT will likely generate a straightforward, single-paragraph prompt.  
   - Example Output (Hypothetical):  
     \[
       \text{"Write a 500-word essay discussing the importance of environmental }\newline
       \text{conservation. Include key reasons why it matters and practical ways }\newline
       \text{everyone can contribute. Use a friendly, informative tone."}
     \]

---

## 4. Refining Your Prompt

Often, the first version won’t capture everything you need. Here’s how to refine:

1. **Ask for More Details**  
   - Example Query to ChatGPT:  
     \[
       \text{"That’s good, but could you make it more explicit about covering }\newline
       \text{three main sections (causes, effects, and solutions) and adding }\newline
       \text{a call-to-action at the end?"}
     \]
   
2. **Review the Revised Output**  
   - ChatGPT might now produce a more structured prompt, mentioning exactly what to cover in each section.

3. **Iterate Again**  
   - Keep requesting changes until you’re satisfied.  
   - Ask for an example structure, subheadings, or a certain writing style (e.g., persuasive, narrative).

---

## 5. Adding Constraints and Examples

To get very specific prompts, include constraints or examples:

1. **Length Constraints**  
   - “Limit your prompt instructions to 50 words.”  
   - “Ensure the user’s output doesn’t exceed two paragraphs.”

2. **Formatting Constraints**  
   - “Use bullet points for each section requirement.”  
   - “Ask the user to provide an introduction, main content, and conclusion in separate paragraphs.”

3. **Style or Tone Examples**  
   - Provide a short excerpt or model text so ChatGPT understands the tone.  
   - Example Query:  
     \[
       \text{"Here is an example tone I like: 'We’re excited you’re exploring }\newline
       \text{environmental conservation! It’s a big topic, but we’ll break it down }\newline
       \text{into manageable steps...' Can you match this style?"}
     \]

---

## 6. Testing and Iterating with ChatGPT

1. **Test the Prompt on ChatGPT**  
   - Copy the newly created prompt and ask ChatGPT to respond to it.  
   - Evaluate if the output aligns with your goal.

2. **Refine if Needed**  
   - If the prompt produces too general or off-topic answers, adjust the instructions.  
   - Be more explicit about what you want and what to avoid.

3. **Ask for Self-Critique**  
   - You can also request ChatGPT to critique its own prompts. For example:  
     \[
       \text{"Analyze the above prompt. How could it be improved for clarity and }\newline
       \text{user engagement?"}
     \]
   - This meta-feedback can help refine the final version.

---

## 7. Example Walkthrough

Let’s see a concise example from start to finish:

**Goal**: Create a prompt for a user to write a short story about an alien world.

1. **Initial Meta-Prompt**  
   - Query to ChatGPT:  
     \[
       \text{"Help me create a prompt that asks a user to write a short story set on }\newline
       \text{an alien world. Make it creative and open-ended."}
     \]

2. **ChatGPT’s First Output** (Hypothetical)  
   \[
     \text{"Write a short story about an alien world. Focus on describing its unique }\newline
     \text{landscape, creatures, and culture, and how a human traveler might react }\newline
     \text{to this environment."}
   \]

3. **Refine**  
   - Follow-up Query:  
     \[
       \text{"Can you add a requirement for an unexpected twist at the end and }\newline
       \text{make sure it’s under 300 words?"}
     \]

4. **Revised Prompt** (Hypothetical)  
   \[
     \text{"Write a short story (300 words max) set on an alien world. Focus on the }\newline
     \text{planet’s strange landscape, bizarre creatures, and one surprising event }\newline
     \text{or twist that challenges the human traveler. Keep it engaging and }\newline
     \text{descriptive."}
   \]

5. **Test**  
   - Copy the “Revised Prompt” into ChatGPT and see if the outcome meets your expectations.

---

## 8. Best Practices and Tips

1. **Start Broad, Then Narrow Down**  
   - Let ChatGPT generate a generic prompt, then refine step by step.

2. **Encourage ChatGPT to Explain Choices**  
   - You can ask, “Why did you choose these words?” or “How can this prompt be more engaging?” to improve its reasoning.

3. **Include Examples**  
   - If you have a specific format in mind, show ChatGPT an example prompt. This helps it mimic structure and tone.

4. **Balance Creativity and Constraints**  
   - Too many constraints might stifle creativity; too few constraints might produce vague or irrelevant prompts.

5. **Document Your Best Prompts**  
   - Keep a record of prompts that worked well, so you can reuse or adapt them in the future.

---

## 9. Putting It All Together

Here’s a concise step-by-step recap:

1. **Set Your Goal**: Define the purpose, audience, and style you want in the final prompt.  
2. **Issue an Initial Meta-Prompt**: Tell ChatGPT to generate a draft prompt based on your needs.  
3. **Refine the Prompt**: Ask ChatGPT to add, remove, or modify specific elements (sections, tone, format).  
4. **Add Constraints and Examples**: Keep narrowing down until the prompt is just right.  
5. **Test the Prompt**: Paste the final prompt back into ChatGPT to see if the generated content matches your expectations.  
6. **Iterate as Needed**: Continue refining until you’re satisfied.

---

## 10. Conclusion

By following these steps, you’ll leverage ChatGPT’s own capabilities to **create and refine prompts**—essentially using AI to help you command AI more effectively. This meta-prompting strategy can significantly improve the quality, specificity, and creativity of the tasks you set for yourself, for students, or for your team.

**Key Takeaways**:  
- Always start with a clear objective.  
- Use ChatGPT iteratively: generate, refine, and test.  
- Incorporate constraints, examples, and style guidelines for best results.  
- Don’t be afraid to ask ChatGPT for feedback on its own suggestions!

---

**Now you’re ready to harness ChatGPT to generate top-notch prompts.** Go ahead and try it out—ask ChatGPT to help you craft your next prompt, refine it, and see the magic unfold!

## Advanced Meta Prompting
Below is a detailed guide on how you can blend meta-prompting (i.e., using ChatGPT to generate or refine prompts for ChatGPT or other AI tools) with several advanced prompting techniques. The goal is to show you how to ask ChatGPT to produce prompts that leverage methods such as Chain-of-Thought, Zero-Shot, Self-Consistency, Generated Knowledge, Prompt Chaining, and Least-to-Most prompting.

1. Setting the Stage: What Is Meta-Prompting Again?
	•	Meta-prompting: Instead of directly asking ChatGPT a question, you ask ChatGPT to help you write the prompt you should use.
	•	Why Use It?: This allows ChatGPT to co-create a highly tailored question or instruction set that explicitly incorporates advanced prompting methods (e.g., chain-of-thought reasoning or multi-step prompts).

2. Overview of Advanced Prompting Techniques

2.1 Chain-of-Thought Prompting
	•	Definition: Encouraging the AI to show its step-by-step reasoning or explanation before concluding its final answer.
	•	Why It Helps: It can yield more transparent and comprehensive answers.

2.2 Zero-Shot Chain-of-Thought
	•	Definition: Asking the model to reason step by step without providing a worked example first.
	•	Why It Helps: Useful when you want the model to generate an internal reasoning process on its own in a zero-shot context.

2.3 Self-Consistency
	•	Definition: Encouraging the model to generate multiple reasoning paths and then converge on the most plausible solution.
	•	Why It Helps: Helps reduce errors by comparing or merging different “chains of thought.”

2.4 Generated Knowledge
	•	Definition: Asking the model to first generate a body of knowledge or context, then using that knowledge in a follow-up question.
	•	Why It Helps: Separates the knowledge-gathering phase from the reasoning/answer phase, often leading to more informed results.

2.5 Prompt Chaining
	•	Definition: Using the output of one prompt as the input to the next prompt in a structured sequence.
	•	Why It Helps: Breaks complex tasks into smaller steps, each step building on the previous answer.

2.6 Least-to-Most Prompting
	•	Definition: Asking the model to solve the simplest subproblem first, then gradually move to more complex subproblems.
	•	Why It Helps: Helps the model systematically approach complex tasks in incremental steps.

3. How to Meta-Prompt for These Techniques

3.1 Chain-of-Thought (CoT) Prompting
	1.	Tell ChatGPT You Want a CoT Prompt
Example meta-prompt to ChatGPT:
	“ChatGPT, I want a prompt that tells the AI to explain its detailed reasoning steps before giving a final answer. Please generate a prompt that uses chain-of-thought prompting for a math problem about prime numbers.”
	2.	ChatGPT’s Response (Hypothetical)
It might give you something like:
	“‘Please solve the following math problem step by step, detailing your reasoning for each step, and only at the end provide a concise final answer: [Insert math problem here].’”
	3.	Refine If Needed
	•	If you want a certain style or length, you can say:
	“Make it more concise, and remind the AI to label each step as Step 1, Step 2, etc.”

3.2 Zero-Shot Chain-of-Thought
	1.	Explain Zero-Shot CoT to ChatGPT
	“ChatGPT, please create a prompt that instructs the AI to provide a step-by-step reasoning process in a zero-shot context—i.e., with no prior examples. We want the model to spontaneously generate its own reasoning for a logical puzzle.”
	2.	ChatGPT’s Response (Hypothetical)
	“‘Consider this logic puzzle: [Puzzle statement]. Solve it by outlining your reasoning in clear steps, without any examples provided. Finally, present your conclusion.’”
	3.	Iterate
	•	If the puzzle is complex, you can meta-prompt ChatGPT to also include “extra clarifications” or “simplify language.”

3.3 Self-Consistency
	1.	Ask for Multiple Reasoning Paths
	•	Example meta-prompt:
	“ChatGPT, I want a prompt that makes the AI produce multiple possible chains of thought for a riddle, compare them, and pick the most consistent final answer. Please write this prompt for me.”
	2.	ChatGPT’s Response (Hypothetical)
	“‘Please generate at least two different step-by-step reasoning paths to solve this riddle, compare the results, and decide on the best final answer based on self-consistency.’”
	3.	Use
	•	You can then take that prompt and apply it to the actual riddle you have in mind.

3.4 Generated Knowledge
	1.	Separate Knowledge Gathering from the Main Question
	•	Example meta-prompt:
	“ChatGPT, please write a two-part prompt. The first part should ask the AI to generate a concise summary of relevant background knowledge on renewable energy sources. The second part should then ask the AI to use that knowledge to evaluate the feasibility of solar panels in cloudy regions.”
	2.	ChatGPT’s Response (Hypothetical)
	Part 1: “‘First, list the major types of renewable energy and their typical power output characteristics…’”
Part 2: “‘Now, using that knowledge, analyze the feasibility…’”
	3.	Refinement
	•	If you want it more structured, you can instruct ChatGPT to use bullet points or headings.

3.5 Prompt Chaining
	1.	Plan a Sequence of Prompts
	•	Example meta-prompt:
	“ChatGPT, please create a series of three prompts. The first prompt gathers data about the user’s interests in healthy eating. The second analyzes that data to suggest meal plans. The third evaluates the user’s feedback to refine the suggestions.”
	2.	ChatGPT’s Response (Hypothetical)
	1.	Prompt 1: “‘What are your dietary goals, favorite foods, and any dietary restrictions?’”
	2.	Prompt 2: “‘Using the user’s data from Prompt 1, propose three healthy meal plans…’”
	3.	Prompt 3: “‘Based on the user’s feedback, refine or alter the meal plans…’”
	3.	Usage
	•	You can then copy/paste these prompts in order to run them as a chain.

3.6 Least-to-Most Prompting
	1.	Break Down Complexity
	•	Example meta-prompt:
	“ChatGPT, write a prompt that instructs the AI to solve a complex chemistry problem by starting with the simplest subproblem and working up to the hardest.”
	2.	ChatGPT’s Response (Hypothetical)
	“‘Begin by identifying the simplest part of the chemistry question, solve it, then move on to progressively harder steps, until all parts of the question are answered.’”
	3.	Refine
	•	You might also ask ChatGPT to add a reminder to label each subproblem.

4. Putting It All Together

Let’s imagine you want one meta-prompt that merges several advanced techniques at once—for example, you want the AI to:
	1.	Generate Knowledge on a topic,
	2.	Use Chain-of-Thought to reason through a question,
	3.	Then apply Self-Consistency to pick the best final answer.

Your meta-prompt might look like this:

	Meta-Prompt Example:
“ChatGPT, please create a single combined prompt that:
		1.	First asks the AI to list relevant background information on climate change (Generated Knowledge).
	2.	Then instructs the AI to reason step by step about the potential impacts of climate change on agriculture (Chain-of-Thought).
	3.	Finally, requests the AI to generate two different reasoning approaches and pick the most consistent conclusion (Self-Consistency).
Please write the final combined prompt as one cohesive instruction.”

You would then wait for ChatGPT to produce something like:

	Potential Combined Prompt:
“First, provide a concise summary of key facts about climate change and its effects on weather patterns. Next, step through the likely impacts of changing weather on agriculture, explaining your reasoning in detail. Then, create at least two distinct reasoning paths to explore different outcomes, compare them, and determine which conclusion is most consistent with the facts presented.”

5. Best Practices & Tips
	1.	Keep Instructions Clear: When you meta-prompt, break your instructions into bullet points or numbered lists so ChatGPT doesn’t get confused.
	2.	Iterate: If the prompt ChatGPT gives you isn’t quite right, follow up with clarifications—“Make it shorter,” “Use simpler language,” or “Add more details about X.”
	3.	Combine Techniques Wisely: Sometimes too many advanced techniques can lead to complex or confusing prompts. Start with one or two (like CoT + Prompt Chaining) and then layer more as needed.
	4.	Use Self-Reflection: You can even ask ChatGPT to evaluate whether the prompt it created successfully includes the advanced techniques and how it might improve them.
	5.	Practice: The more you experiment, the better you’ll understand which advanced prompting method (or combination of methods) suits your particular problem.

6. Final Thoughts

By meta-prompting, you’re effectively having ChatGPT “teach itself how to respond” by generating specialized prompts that incorporate techniques like Chain-of-Thought, Zero-Shot, Self-Consistency, Generated Knowledge, Prompt Chaining, and Least-to-Most. Each of these methods aims to improve the clarity and accuracy of AI outputs in a slightly different way.

Experiment with these methods in different combinations. Refine the meta-prompts you use. Over time, you’ll discover the most effective ways to guide ChatGPT (or any other AI) to produce deeper, more reliable, and more detailed answers—all by using ChatGPT to craft the instructions itself!
