To make a language model less predictable and more insightful, apply the following strategies:
Use a negative style guide
Clearly state what you don’t want the model to do.Force divergence in choice
Push the model to break away from default phrasing or reasoning patterns.Avoid normal patterns
Prevent it from falling into habits of:- equivocation (vague hedging)
- clichés
- templated responses
Make the model self-aware
Instruct it to identify and critique its own templates or stylistic patterns, then alter them.Encourage self-critique
After an initial output, ask it to:- review and critique its own response
- generate a second, improved version
Switch models for perspective
Use multiple models to critique and refine outputs.
Different models excel at different types of reasoning.Challenge consensus
Provide examples that go against the norm and explain why the usual consensus is flawed.
Source:
The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis — “5 Prompting Tricks to Make Your AI Less Average,” Oct 19, 2025
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