If you’ve spent any time on YouTube or social media, you’ve probably seen someone selling a course on prompt engineering or offering a collection of “secret prompts” that promise better AI results.
I always find this interesting because, in my opinion, prompt engineering is often made to sound far more complicated than it really is. Many creators make it seem like there’s a hidden formula that only experts know, but I don’t think that’s the case.
WHAT PROMPT ENGINEERING ACTUALLY IS
At its core, prompt engineering is the process of structuring, writing, and refining instructions to help an AI produce accurate, relevant, and useful outputs. Instead of treating AI like a search engine, you’re giving it clear instructions, almost like writing source code for a conversation.
While that definition sounds technical, in practice, prompt engineering is simply communication. Every time you interact with an AI chatbot, you’re communicating. You’re explaining what you want, providing context, clarifying your expectations, and refining your request until you get the outcome you’re looking for. That’s really all prompt engineering is.
THE PART MOST PEOPLE DON’T TALK ABOUT
Here’s what I think gets overlooked. The quality of your prompts depends heavily on your own knowledge. The best prompts don’t come from buying a prompt library or memorising a framework. They come from understanding the subject you’re working on. The more you know, the better you’ll be at asking questions, giving context, and evaluating the responses you receive.
KNOWLEDGE MAKES AI MORE POWERFUL
Let’s take web development as an example. If you’re a web developer, you should already understand HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Once you have that foundation, using AI becomes much easier because you know what to ask for.
You can identify problems, request improvements, ask for optimisations, and recognize when the AI gives you an incorrect answer. Your expertise allows you to guide the AI instead of letting the AI guide you. The same principle applies whether you’re a writer, designer, marketer, lawyer, engineer, or student.
AI IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR LEARNING
This is why I don’t believe buying random prompt packs or expensive prompt engineering courses is the answer for most people. Without the necessary background knowledge, even the best prompt won’t consistently produce great results because you won’t know whether the output is accurate, complete, or even correct.
Generative AI isn’t a shortcut around learning. You still need to study your field. You still need to read books, practice your craft, and build genuine expertise. AI works best as an assistant to knowledgeable people, not as a replacement for knowledge itself.
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BETTER KNOWLEDGE LEADS TO BETTER PROMPTS
When you know exactly what you’re trying to accomplish, prompting becomes much easier. You naturally provide better context, ask more specific questions and refine the AI’s responses more effectively. And because you understand the subject, you can tell when something isn’t quite right.
Without that foundation, you’re often relying on trial and error, hoping a random prompt will produce the perfect answer.
SO, IS PROMPT ENGINEERING OVERRATED ?
I think prompt engineering has been overcomplicated. Yes, there are techniques that can improve your results. Learning how to provide context, define constraints, assign roles, or request specific output formats can absolutely make AI more useful.
But those are communication skills, not secret techniques that replace expertise.
MY TAKEAWAY
If there’s one thing I’d encourage people to focus on, it’s this: learn the subject first, develop real knowledge, then use AI to amplify what you already know.
The internet may convince you that success with AI comes from buying the perfect prompt or taking the perfect course. I don’t think that’s true. The people who get the best results from AI are usually the ones who understand their field well enough to communicate clearly, ask better questions, and evaluate the answers they receive.
At the end of the day, prompt engineering isn’t magic ;It’s clear communication, supported by genuine knowledge. And that’s something no prompt library can replace.
Hi, I’m Dr. Mobolanle Bello, a Computer Science Lecturer with over 15 years of experience in software engineering, web development, data science, database management, ebusiness, research, and education. My expertise includes creating bespoke digital solutions such as e-learning platforms and e-commerce sites, alongside conducting research in AI, machine learning, and network optimisation. I have published my work in respected journals and conferences, contributing to advancements in technology. Outside of academia, I am passionate about using technology to improve lives and am committed to inspiring the next generation of tech professionals through teaching and collaboration.
