Why learn prompt engineering when AI can do it for you?

I was chatting with someone recently about an upcoming TechWeek event we're running, focused on teaching women the basics of AI, specifically prompt engineering.

And they asked me: "What's the point of learning prompt engineering when you can just get AI to do it for you?" And honestly, great question. And one I think more of us should be asking. Because it gets right to the heart of how we work with AI, not just what AI can do on its own.

Yes, there are tools that help you write better prompts

If you haven't tried console.anthropic.com, I highly recommend it. Disclaimer: you have to pay for it. From memory, $5 USD for tokens.

It's one of my go-to tools when I need help crafting a prompt. It doesn't just generate prompts, you can also paste in a rough idea and ask it to improve your prompt, which is brilliant when you're short on time or clarity.

So yes, there are tools that can help you prompt better. But, and it's a big but, you still need to know what you want to say.

The real skill? Clear communication

Prompt engineering is just another way of saying: "How clearly can you tell AI what you want to do?"

At its core, it's communication.

You're translating an idea from inside your head into something the AI can understand and act on. And whether that's asking it to write a report, generate a plan, or brainstorm ideas, you still need to give it direction.

Even the best AI tool can't read your mind (yet). You still have to get the first version of the idea out of our head and into words. And that's why prompt engineering matters.

It's not about writing the perfect prompt on your first go. It's about:

• Understanding what you're asking for.

• Knowing how to guide the AI to get there.

• Tweaking, refining, and adjusting along the way.

So yes, use tools to help you refine. But don't skip the part where you actually know what you're asking for.

Why this skill is worth learning (even if AI helps you)

It helps you get better results. Vague prompts = vague answers. Clear prompts = useful, tailored output.

It makes you a better thinker. You'll start thinking in steps, outcomes, and structure, and that's valuable in any role.

It helps teams collaborate. Knowing how to frame problems clearly helps when working with both humans and AI.

Learning prompt engineering isn't about being "technical." It's about learning to communicate with clarity, something every professional can benefit from, with or without AI.

What's something you wish AI understood better when you give it a prompt?