For months we've heard about "prompt engineering" like it's the job of the future. But there's a tiny problem: it doesn't exist. Writing a prompt is just telling an AI what you want — the machine does the rest.
In 30 seconds
01Writing prompts isn't engineering, it's typing: tell the AI what you want, that's it.
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What this means for you
If you're thinking about becoming a "prompt engineer" because it sounds cool: don't. Use AI as a tool to get better at what you already do. If you know nothing, learning to type better won't change that.
Thought slapping 'AI' next to a company name guaranteed its stock would soar? Well, the market had a bitter surprise this year.
·1 min·2·Beginner
Tech marketing sold 'prompt engineering' as a skill, but it's just understanding how to use a tool.
03Real skill is what you build with AI, not how you phrase the question: copywriting, coding, business.
Let's start with the naked truth: writing a is typing. Full stop. It's not engineering, it's not a discipline, it doesn't require a six-week certification on Udemy. It's the opposite of what tech marketing tried to sell you. When you type "Tell me a joke about programming languages" and ChatGPT hands you the punchline, you didn't do engineering — you asked a question, like you'd ask a friend.
The hype around "prompt engineering" was born from confusion between "knowing how to use a tool" and "having a real skill." Sure, it's useful to know that adding "Explain it like I'm five" works better than asking in the dark. But that's not a skill — that's just using your brain. Once you get the concept, you're done. It doesn't evolve, doesn't deepen like programming or design does.
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Where the story gets interesting is when you stop pretending it's a skill and start actually using AI to build something of value. A copywriter who knows how to squeeze the best results out of a language model? That one, yes, has a skill — copywriting. A developer writing decent prompts to automate repetitive tasks? Their skill is automation, not "prompt engineering." AI is the hammer; the real ability is knowing which nail to hit.
The real danger is that while everyone screams on LinkedIn that they're "prompt engineers" (like they cracked binary code), the focus shifts from the real problem: what are you actually building with this tool? Because without a concrete skill behind it — whether that's business, communication, coding, research — you're just someone who types well.
Here's the irony: as models get smarter, even your dumb questions start working. In two years, AI will understand what you mean even if you write like a drunk person. When that happens, what's left of your "skill"?
While the tech world was buzzing about OpenAI, Anthropic made its move. They just dropped Opus 5, a model they claim is almost as good as their legendary Fable 5.
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