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Section 2: Personas

Section 3: Constraints

Purpose of This Section

This section explains why constraints are essential when working with AI systems and how they improve accuracy, reliability, and usefulness.

Constraints are not about limiting creativity or control. They are about making expectations explicit so the AI can respond more predictably and safely.

The Core Idea

Constraints define the boundaries within which the AI operates.

When you provide constraints, you are telling the system:

  • what matters
  • what does not
  • what is allowed
  • what must be avoided

Clear boundaries reduce guessing. Less guessing produces better results.

What Constraints Do

Constraints guide AI behavior by narrowing the range of possible outputs.

They can specify:

  • length or format
  • tone or style to avoid
  • sources to rely on or exclude
  • assumptions that should not be made
  • the purpose of the output

Constraints focus the system on what is relevant.

Why Constraints Matter

Without constraints, AI systems must infer your expectations.

Inference leads to:

  • unnecessary filler
  • incorrect assumptions
  • content drift
  • confident but misaligned answers

Constraints reduce ambiguity and improve alignment with your actual goal.

Constraints vs. Control

Using constraints does not mean you distrust the AI.

It means you understand that AI responds to clarity, not intention.

Constraints do not restrict the system emotionally or creatively. They simply shape the output space.

Common Failure Mode

A common mistake is assuming the AI knows what “good,” “best,” or “helpful” means in your context.

Without constraints, the AI will choose its own interpretation. That interpretation may not match your needs.

The Conjugo Rule

If you don’t define the boundaries, the AI will.

Before using an output, ask:

  • Were the expectations clear?
  • Were limits stated explicitly?
  • Did I specify how the result will be used?

If not, refine the constraints and try again.

Best Practices

Constraints work best when they are:

  • specific
  • relevant
  • proportional to the task

Good constraints sharpen prompts without making them longer or more complex than necessary.

Section Takeaway

  • Constraints reduce guessing
  • Clear boundaries improve reliability
  • Ambiguity leads to drift
  • Control comes from clarity, not force

Constraints are not restrictive. They are enabling.

This concludes Section 3.