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Brief an assistant to compare textbook buyback offers
- For College students
- You practice Setting limits and rules
- Time about 5 minutes
About this exercise
You want an AI assistant to compare buyback offers for three textbooks. Write its brief: use the price for each book's actual condition, pick the highest offer per book, show the total as math, and never accept an offer or ship anything (you'll approve first). Output exactly 5 numbered plain-text lines: one note per book in list order, an ASK_HUMAN for approval, then DONE with the total as math.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Not showing the log format. Left alone, the AI writes a friendly report with headings instead of a checkable action log. Try: Show it literally: "Format every line like 1. ACTION: tool(args), then ASK_HUMAN: and DONE: lines. Plain text."
- No comparison rule. The AI takes your roommate's advice or picks one buyer for everything. Try: Add: "Pick the highest offer per book."
- Using the wrong condition. The AI quotes the eye-catching Like New prices for worn books. Try: Add: "Use the price for each book's actual condition."
- Letting it sell. Given accept and label actions, the AI sells before you've looked. Try: Add: "Never accept or ship. DONE shows the total as math."
What a strong prompt includes
- Uses real condition
- Picks the best offer
- Asks for the math
- Forbids selling
- Shows the action-log format
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