“Reasoning” Mode and Searching for Ideas

Most models now also offer “reasoning” of “thinking” modes plus “search” features. The names, symbols and locations of these tools vary. They are often combined in a single mode/button.

Reasoning

“Reasoning” or “thinking” changes the internal instructions and slows down the process (and increases compute time and energy cost), so you should not use this when you just want something simple. Previously, you could some of this manually by using a “Chain of Thought” request: first do this and then that. Now, however, you can just ask for a complicated analysis and just hit the button. The amount of thinking is variable (and in many models you can decide how much thinking you want.)

Web Search

• Most models now also have the ability to search the web, but many of them require that you select this feature (often an icon).
• Google now has its Gemini AI built into its browser but there new browsers (like Dia and Comet from Perplexity) with more to come that will transform searching, research and shopping.
• One way to combat hallucinations and misinformation is to ask your AI to search and confirm information. AI never gets tired so ask it to triple check all sources. (Instructions to check for accuracy are a good reason to use a system prompt.)

Search for Ideas

Non-AI tools limit your search to keywords or combinations of words. But with AI, you can search documents, depositions, student records or the web for connections. Note the words in bold below and how a non-AI tool will search for those words, but AI will search for those ideas.

• Find anything like this…
• Has anything similar ever happened to a previous student/patient?
• Are there other examples of this?
• Read our draft book and identify all of the places where we repeated an idea.
• Do a background check and scan the internet for any red flags about our job candidates.
• What are the trends in research/industry about A?
• What are experts saying about B?
• How has the thinking about C changed in the last six months?

Searching and Reasoning

Note that some of these prompts may not require much reasoning and others will require a lot of (and really extended tasks might qualify for deep reasoning–which automatically combines the search function with the maximum reasoning/thinking.) Note that each of these prompts triggers a long series of different searches.

• Search for everything I need to know to prepare for an excellent job interview for position A at B, and prepare a briefing document with talking points.
• Is there anything that X has posted in the last 10 years that is overly political and might have a negative impact if we hired him at Y?
• You are a new customer/student. Go to our /these web pages and test them like a naive user hoping to buy/determine/find X. Repeat for our competitors’ sites. Analyze your findings in a brief report and highlight the difficulties. How might we make our website better?
• Analyze all of the new federal and state laws, executive orders, and regulations around A, and provide a summary of the most important changes that might affect university B. Search all of our web pages, courses, policies, practices, and active grants, and create a report that lists all of the potential specific issues or liabilities we might face. Provide a summary of federal grants that might be at risk and calculate how much funding is collectively represented by these grants. Suggest changes we might make to limit our risk exposure. Focus on the most volatile issues that might put us in the public spotlight. Create an infographic based on this report that will help our staff make sure we are in compliance with all new regulations. Use our style guide and colors to make this infographic.
• Search for reviews of the best item A that can do B and C with restrictions D in my situation E. I would like F. Price range G. I am not interested in H. Compare features I and L in a table and summarize findings in 300 words or less. Check for availability and make sure I can buy it now. Provide the best option for features and prices. Make a recommendation on which product I should buy given my circumstances.
• Search for candidates for this job position. Use this job description and search globally. Make sure all candidates meet requirement A [PhD awarded/teaching experience etc]. Prioritize candidates B [with complementary research to those in the current department etc.]. Search also for any red flags that would prevent us from hiring them. Create a list with email addresses and any red flags and write an introductory email to each inviting them to apply.

DEEP RESEARCH TEMPLATE

• Create a research report that will illuminate/examine/explore X. Make sure to examine the questions A, B, and C and include an analysis of D & E. You should begin with a critical review of literature/practice/web and then provide a synthesis of the key ideas/controversies/concepts/case studies and a recommendation.
• Sources & Scope: The research should
  • Draw from fields F & G,
  • Methodology H
  • Focus on peer-reviewed journal articles/best practices/reputable studies/institutional sources. 
  • Look for sector/Western/political/educational/gender bias in sources
  • Seek global sources in language/culture I.
• Purpose & Framework: 
  • Use K as a framework for understanding these issues.
  • Focus on real-world applications and capabilities.
  • Pay special attention to policy implications and government uses.
  • Note any potential for L.
• Audience:
  • Write for an audience of M/for journal N or submission to conference O. 
  • Describe your findings with relevance to P.