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Find the bugs in an AI's commission tier formula
- For Sales and customer success
- You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
- Time about 5 minutes
About this exercise
Your commission plan pays one flat rate on the whole month: 5% under $50,000, 8% from $50,000 up to $100,000, and 10% at $100,000 or more. An AI wrote a formula that's paying some reps wrong. Ask for exactly 2 numbered lines labeled Bug 1: and Bug 2:, each naming a rep it gets wrong, then the fixed formula for C2 in one code block. Under 80 words outside the code.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Not giving the plan's rules. The AI can't tell whether $50,000 exactly should earn 5% or 8%. Try: Add: "8% from $50,000 up; 10% at $100,000 or more."
- Asking only for a fix. You get a new formula but no proof the old one was wrong, so payroll won't trust either. Try: Add: "Bug 1: and Bug 2:, each naming a rep it pays wrong."
- Getting a menu of options. The AI likes to offer two or three versions of the formula, so you're left to pick and test them yourself. Try: Add: "Give one formula only, in one code block, no alternatives."
- Getting a tutorial. By default the AI explains nested IFs at length. Try: Add: "Each bug line under 25 words. Nothing after the code."
What a strong prompt includes
- Gives the plan's tiers
- Settles the boundaries
- Asks for named bugs
- Asks for one formula
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