What are good examples of context you can provide to improve AI interactions?

Ever felt like you're constantly re-explaining your project to ChatGPT? I know I have. It's a real time-suck, especially when you're deep in the weeds of a complex project. I'm talking about the endless copy-pasting of context, re-uploading files, and the whole rigmarole of getting an AI chat to understand what's going on. Let's be honest, we've all been there.

So, what does good context in AI actually look like? And how can we stop wasting time on setup? Here are a few examples, based on my own experience:

1. Project Documentation: I always start by feeding in the project's spec, design docs, and any relevant user stories. This is like giving the AI a cheat sheet. The more detailed, the better. It means less back-and-forth later.
2. Codebase Snippets: Code is context. I like to include key functions or classes the AI needs to understand. If it’s a web project, specific snippets from the HTML/CSS/JS are crucial.
3. Data Examples: If your project involves data, providing sample datasets or the schema helps the AI understand the shape of your information. It allows the AI to provide more accurate and relevant outputs. This has been hugely useful when, for example, creating database queries.
4. User Personas: I’ve found that defining user personas gives the AI a framework for understanding the target audience. This is especially useful for generating user-focused content or features.
5. Environment Setup: I always include details on the development environment, dependencies, and any specific configurations. This is invaluable when debugging or understanding how things are supposed to work.
6. Past Interactions: Saving the chat history or previous prompts as context can be a huge win. It lets the AI build on past conversations and learn from earlier iterations.
7. Use-Case Scenario: Describing a few example use-cases really helps. It ensures that the AI not only understands the 'what' but also the 'why' of the project.

I’ve tried a bunch of ways to manage this stuff – spreadsheets, note-taking apps… nothing really stuck. I was still spending a lot of time wrestling with contexts. What works very well for me is setting up multiple projects with relevant data in Contextch.at.

It’s a game-changer because it allows me to start new chats that already know my data to save time. They have useful tools like different AI models (GPT-4, Claude 3), context builders, and even a cost calculator. Also, there are no subscription fees, you just pay for what you use. I’ve found it saves me so much time. It feels like how AI chats should work from the start.