Stop Talking to Robots: 20 "Cheat Codes" to Unlock ChatGPT
We’ve all been there. You type a prompt into ChatGPT, and the answer comes back... fine. It’s accurate, but it’s robotic. Or maybe it’s too long. Or perhaps it’s drowning in technical jargon when all you wanted was a simple explanation.
Most people treat ChatGPT like a search engine. Power users treat it like a configurable engine.
While these aren't "official" system commands, the AI community has discovered a set of shorthand triggers—"Cheat Codes"—that reliably influence the tone, depth, and structure of your output. Think of them as switches you flip before you even start typing your request.
Here are 20 practical cheat codes to turn you into a prompt engineer instantly.
Level 1: The Simplifiers
Use these when the concept is hard, but you need it to be easy.
1. ELI5 (Explain Like I’m 5)
What it does: Forces simple language, analogies, and zero jargon.
Prompt: ELI5: What is machine learning? Best for: Grasping complex new topics instantly.
2. ELI10 (Explain Like I’m 10)
What it does: A bridge between "baby talk" and a textbook. It adds depth without getting boggy.
Prompt: ELI10: How does reinforcement learning work? Best for: Getting a working knowledge of a topic.
3. /simplify
What it does: Strips away complexity to focus purely on intuition and the "gist."
Prompt: /simplify: Explain backpropagation. Best for: When you feel overwhelmed by details.
4. TLDR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
What it does: The ultimate time-saver. It condenses massive amounts of text into key takeaways.
Prompt: TLDR: Summarize this meeting transcript in 3 sentences. Best for: Research papers, long articles, and messy reports.
Level 2: The Tone Shifters
Use these to change the "voice" of the AI.
5. /human
What it does: Removes the "As an AI language model..." stiffness. It mimics natural, conversational phrasing.
Prompt: /human: Explain LLMs like you’re talking to a friend. Best for: Social media content, emails, and avoiding the "AI-generated" feel.
6. /nerd
What it does: The opposite of /human. It activates technical vocabulary and high-level concepts.
Prompt: /nerd: Explain gradient descent. Best for: Engineers, scientists, and deep divers.
7. /jargonize
What it does: Uses domain-specific professional terminology.
Prompt: /jargonize: Explain prompt engineering. Best for: Whitepapers, technical documentation, or impressing experts.
8. /darkmode
What it does: adds weight, intensity, and seriousness.
Prompt: /darkmode: Explain the risks of unchecked AI. Best for: Philosophical debates or ethical discussions.
9. /rewrite
What it does: Polishes your existing text with a specific intent (confidence, clarity, flow) without changing the meaning.
Prompt: /rewrite: Make this email sound more confident. Best for: Resumes, cover letters, and difficult messages.
Level 3: The Deep Divers
Use these when you need structure and analysis.
10. /long
What it does: Triggers a structured, essay-style response with context and reasoning.
Prompt: /long: Explain how transformers work. Best for: Study guides and long-form content creation.
11. /short
What it does: Removes all fluff. Just the answer.
Prompt: /short: What is RAG? Best for: Hooks, captions, and quick definitions.
12. /diagram
What it does: Uses text-based visuals (ASCII art or flowcharts) to explain logic.
Prompt: /diagram: How does a RAG pipeline work? Best for: Visual learners and systems architecture.
13. /debate
What it does: Forces the AI to look at both sides of an argument.
Prompt: /debate: Will AI replace software engineers? Best for: Critical thinking and interview prep.
14. /compare
What it does: A side-by-side breakdown of similarities and differences.
Prompt: /compare: Supervised vs reinforcement learning. Best for: Making decisions between two options.
Level 4: The Active Learners
Use these to interact, not just read.
15. /example
What it does: moves from theory to practice by providing concrete use cases.
Prompt: /example: How is RAG used in real products? Best for: Understanding how to apply what you learn.
16. /teach
What it does: Structures the response like a lesson plan or tutorial.
Prompt: /teach: Teach me transformers step by step. Best for: Self-education.
17. /quiz
What it does: Turns the table and asks you questions to test your knowledge.
Prompt: /quiz: Test me on LLM fundamentals. Best for: Exam prep and active recall.
18. /check
What it does: Acts as a validator or editor to critique content.
Prompt: /check: Is this explanation technically accurate? Best for: Fact-checking and refining your work.
19. /role
What it does: Adopts a specific persona to frame the answer.
Prompt: /role: Act like a senior researcher and review this paper. Best for: Getting a specific perspective.
20. /story
What it does: Uses narrative to make ideas stick.
Prompt: /story: Explain AI agents through a short story. Best for: Memorization and engagement.
How to use "Combo Moves"
The real magic happens when you stack these codes. The more intentional you are, the better the output.
- The "Learning Combo": ELI10 + /example + /diagram
- The "Content Creator Combo": /human + /short + /rewrite
- The "Expert Review Combo": /nerd + /check + /compare
Try this today: Pick a topic you've been struggling to understand and hit it with a /teach + /example combo. You'll be surprised at the difference.
