AI models are much better at writing prompts for AI models than people are. Which is why several of our AI-first companies rewrite people's initial prompts to produce better outcomes. Last week our AI for code company, Augment launched a similar approach that's significantly improved through its real time codebase understanding.
Since AI-powered agents can accomplish a lot more through the use of tools, guiding them effectively is critical. But most developers using AI for coding products write incomplete or vague prompts, which leads to incorrect or suboptimal outputs.
The Prompt Enhancer feature in Augment automatically pulls relevant context from a developer's codebase using Augment's real-time codebase index and the developer's current coding session. Augment uses its codebase understanding to rewrite the initial prompt, incorporating the gathered context and filling in missing details like files and symbols from the codebase. In many cases, the system knows what's in a large codebase better than a developer simply because it can keep it all "in its head" and track changes happening in real time.
Developers can review the enhanced prompt and edit it before executing. This gives them a chance to see how the system interpreted their request and make any necessary corrections.
As developers use this feature, they regularly learn what's possible with AI, what Augment understands and can do with its codebase understanding, and how to get the most out of both of these systems. It serves as an educational tool, helping developers become more proficient at working with AI coding tools over time.
We've used similar approaches in our image generation and knowledge agent products as well. By transforming vague or incomplete instructions into detailed, optimized prompts written by the systems that understand what's possible, we can make powerful AI tools more accessible and more effective.