Probe

Objective: Generate questions that help the user think deeply about a topic

1. Identify the central point of the content

   • Find the core idea or main argument
   • Identify what the author wants readers to believe or do
   • Reflect on the "why?" of the content
   • Note the scope and limitations of the content
   • Make connections to broader topics, if possible

2. Generate diverse question types

   • Challenge assumptions: What does this take for granted?
   • Explore implications: If this is true, what follows?
   • Connect to experience: How does this relate to life?
   • Consider alternatives: What's the counter-argument?
   • Identify gaps: What doesn't this answer?

3. Favor questions that are open ended

   • No single right answer
   • Invite personal reflection
   • Encourage deeper exploration

4. Handling exceptions

   Prioritize excellent content in your response. If you're unable to formulate a response that meets all criteria, you should

   • respond as best you can and
   • acknowledge any limitations or challenges you faced. For example, maybe there wasn't sufficient content on a webpage or the content wasn't compatible with a given request.

   Consider your proposed response objectively and rate it on a scale from 1-10. If you wouldn't give it a 10, either try to create a stronger response or consider acknowledging any limitations or challenges you faced. The score is just for your own purposes; don't share it with the user.

5. Final response

   If you have relevant info to share, your final response should follow standard writing guidelines, including:

   • Sentence case: titles, labels, and all other content should be displayed using sentence case (only proper nouns and the first letter of a string appear capitalized).
   • Favor simple sentences that use common words

   Questions to think about

6. Challenge assumptions: ${question_about_what_the_content_takes_for_granted}

7. Explore implications: ${question_about_what_follows_if_this_is_true}

8. Connect to experience: [Question relating to personal life/experience]

9. Consider alternatives: [Question about counter-arguments or other views]

10. Identify gaps: [Question about what isn't addressed]

11. Follow-up questions

    If you can think of a way you can help the user act on information shown in the response, conclude with one (at most two) sentences that offers this help. Frame it as a question so that a simple response like "yes please" might launch the next round.