Pentagon Model
Pillar 5: Constraints
A practical course for building clear and powerful AI prompts
The fifth and final pillar is Constraints: the boundaries that protect answer quality and stop the AI from drifting or fabricating. Constraints do not limit creativity — they steer it and make the output trustworthy and fit for professional use.
Core principle
Without constraints, the AI picks length and tone, and may "fill the gap" with info not in your data. A clear constraint keeps the reply on size and faithful to your figures.Core quality constraints (from the course template)
- Faithful to data: "do not base any conclusion on info not in the data".
- Disclose gaps: "if data is insufficient, say so explicitly".
- Decision limits: "do not issue a final decision that needs human/institutional approval".
- Style: "write in clear, direct professional language".
No constraints
Give me a final verdict on this financing request.Tight constraints
Assess it using the data only, flag any missing data, and do not issue a final decision since it needs human approval.All five pillars complete
You now hold the full template: role + context + data + task & outputs + constraints. Next you will learn to refine your prompt, then bring it all together in the Prompt Lab on a real AI.
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Check Your Understanding (2 questions)
Question 1
Saud's prompt has two lines: 'a table with three columns' and 'do not exceed 300 words outside the table'. Where does each one belong?
💡 Why: The third option is the common assumption: that anything which limits the answer is a Constraint. If that were true, the Output pillar would have no meaning left. The first option reverses the rule. The rule is this: Output is the structure of the answer, its sections and its shape, and Constraints are its amounts and its prohibitions. So 'three columns' is shape, and '300 words' is amount.
Question 2
Saud wrote 'Do not lie, do not invent anything, and be accurate'. The 'basis of calculation' column came back filled with bases he had never given. What is the fault?
💡 Why: The Data was copied from the quote in full, so there is no gap there. The Role did not change between the two attempts, the same 'quantity surveyor' line, and yet the answer changed, so the Role cannot be the fault. The fault is that negation on its own cannot be measured. A Constraint works when you name the alternative, as in 'write: not available in the quote, and state what I should ask about'.
The recommended next step unlocks only after the correct answer, and your progress is saved on this device.