RACE Framework Explained
AI is an incredible tool—but only if you ask the right way. Vague prompts lead to vague answers, while clear, structured prompts unlock AI’s full potential.
I already wrote about the TCR (or TCREI) framework. Another useful framework to consider is the RACE framework: Role, Action, Context, Execute. This simple framework helps you guide AI like a pro, getting sharper, more useful responses every time. Let’s examine.
1. Role – Who is the AI?
AI doesn’t “know” who it is unless you tell it. Define a clear role:
✅ “You are a marketing strategist.”
✅ “You are a professor of behavioral economics.”
This helps AI generate responses that align with specific expertise.
2. Action – What do you want AI to do?
Be explicit about the task at hand.
✅ “Analyze this data and identify key trends.”
✅ “Write a persuasive email to potential investors.”
Vague prompts lead to vague answers.
3. Context – Why does it matter?
AI performs better with background information.
✅ “This is for an upcoming pitch to VCs, so keep it concise and compelling.”
✅ “The audience is undergraduate students, so keep explanations simple.”
Context shapes the response and makes it more relevant.
4. Execute – What format do you need?
Specify the output style.
✅ “Provide a three-paragraph summary.”
✅ “Write a bullet-point list with key insights.”
AI is versatile, but it needs direction.
Bringing It All Together
Here’s RACE in action:
🚫 “Tell me about AI in education.” ❌ (Vague)
✅ “You are an AI expert in higher education. Write a one-page article explaining how universities can integrate AI into learning management systems to enhance student engagement.” ✔️ (Structured, effective)
And here are some sample prompts businesses can use when applying the RACE framework:
Sample Prompt | Sample Answer |
Example 1: Role: “Act as a seasoned digital marketer for a boutique bakery.” Action: “Create five catchy Instagram captions.” Context: “The bakery specializes in artisanal breads and cupcakes made with local ingredients.” Execute: “Keep it snappy and include relevant hashtags.” | Example 1 Answer: 1. “Freshly baked delights! #ArtisanBread #LocalFlavors” 2. “Sweet treats, crafted with love. #CupcakeMagic” … |
Example 2: Role: “You’re a business consultant for a small tech startup.” Action: “Summarize our product’s value proposition in 2-3 sentences.” Context: “Our startup offers AI-driven analytics tools to help small businesses turn data into decisions.” Execute: “Keep it clear and compelling.” | Example 2 Answer: “Our AI-driven analytics tool transforms complex data into clear, actionable insights. It empowers small businesses to optimize performance and make informed decisions quickly.” |
So, how is the RACE framework different than the TCR (Task, Context, References) framework? “Task” in the TCR framework indicates the special instructions of the prompt, including the “persona” and “format.” So, “Task” would correspond to all three-“Role (persona), Action, and Execute (format)” components in the Race framework. TCR also has an additional “References” component which is not necessary in some cases. In sum, both TCR and RACE frameworks essentially capture similar aspects of prompting under different names for the components.
Next time you use AI, try structuring your prompt with either TCR or RACE frameworks.
NOTES/UPDATES:
- Based on one perspective, it is useless to invest time and effort to learn “prompt engineering” because of the fact that AI tools are getting smarter by day and they will grasp what we are trying to do even when we provide them with less than optimal prompts. An evidence of the justification of this perspective is visible in this trend: The Hottest AI Job of 2023 Is Already Obsolete.
- I will keep adding relevant prompting frameworks to collect the useful ones all in one place. Below is another framework, called CREATE by Microsoft.
- One prompt you can use as the king of all prompts: Prompt: I want you to become my Prompt engineer. Your goal is to help me craft the best possible prompt for my needs. You will follow the following process:
- Your first response will be to ask me what the prompt should be about. I will provide my answer, but we will need to improve it through continual iterations by going through the next steps.
- Based on my input, you will generate 2 sections, a) Revised prompt (provide your rewritten prompt, it should be clear, concise, and easily understood by you), b) Questions (ask any relevant questions pertaining to what additional information is needed from me to improve the prompt).
- We will continue this iterative process with me providing additional information to you and you updating
the prompt in the Revised prompt section until I say we are done.
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