Using the 'owl' prompt on ChatGPT can instantly make it give you smarter answers

ChatGPT is known for being fast, helpful, and surprisingly accurate most of the time, but sometimes you’ve got to get a little help from the smartest guy in the animal kingdom: the owl.

But sometimes that famed speed comes at a cost, with answers that feel a little too surface-level.

That’s exactly where a clever trick called the ‘owl’ prompt comes in.

And according to a recent test by Tom’s Guide, it can completely transform how the AI responds.

Think like an owl

Instead of relying on long, complicated instructions, the ‘owl’ prompt uses a simple idea to change how the AI tech approaches a problem.

The prompt encourages ChatGPT to think slowly, carefully, and from multiple perspectives, just like an owl observing its surroundings with its famous 360-degree head.

That subtle change pushes the AI to go beyond quick, polished replies and instead dig deeper into the topic.

How to use the prompt

The prompt used by Tom’s Guide was: “Think like an owl — slow, observant and analytical. Examine this problem from multiple perspectives and identify the hidden factors most people overlook.”

Rather than jumping straight to an answer, ChatGPT starts exploring different angles, weighing pros and cons, and highlighting details that might otherwise be overlooked.

It becomes less about speed and more about thoughtful reasoning.

When it was tested by the folks over at Tom’s Guide, the basic question that first received a fairly generic answer became much more detailed when the owl prompt was added, with layered insights, alternative viewpoints, and a more nuanced final answer.

ChatGPT will be smarter, not quicker

AI tools like ChatGPT are typically designed to be quick and efficient, which works well for simple tasks but can fall short when things get more complex.

The prompt obviously makes things slower, but ultimately you’ll get a better answer.

That means better responses for situations where there isn’t an obvious answer, like decision-making, problem-solving, or planning something important.

It can also help uncover things that aren’t immediately obvious, making the output feel more insightful and useful.

The biggest takeaway is refreshingly simple: you don’t need advanced prompt engineering or technical know-how to improve AI responses.

Sometimes, all it takes is asking ChatGPT to think like an owl.