If you have used chatbots, you may have noticed that most chatbots have become more predictable. In one sense, that is good, but in another, it is limiting and perhaps frustrating.

The key interface and human skill to use an AI-based chatbot is the prompt. With ChatGPT or any other chatbot, we, as feeble humans, are confronted with a little box that the AI asks us to answer one of the most complicated human questions over the ages: “What do you want, or how may I assist you today?” In some respects, it is like responding to the genie from Aladdin’s Lamp. Yikes, I have three wishes, and need to be careful, so I get what I want. We don’t want our response to the genie to be something like, “I wish I could talk to animals.” [It turns out every animal only wants to complain about taxes, climate control, and how humans have messed everything up.]

Since most chatbots are free, we do not usually struggle with our prompts. We don’t fret over our prompt and often just “wing it.” However, I have noticed that the default response from most chatbots has changed recently. The chatbots are becoming less creative. Even though I think my prompts have become more “enlightened”, I notice the AI responses are more regimented and boring. When I enter a prompt to answer a question or generate an image, the AI gives me roughly what I expect. However, its responses are less varied than in the past. Very often, while prompting for an image, I make small changes and get an almost identical response. What’s going on?

A recent Stanford University study found that most chatbots’ default responses were more creative in the past. The study found that the chatbots toned down their creativity. Since these chatbots operate based on probabilities, they began to ignore the smaller probabilities in favor of the most likely one.

Assume you are a manager of a complex organization, in a staff meeting with your team. You ask them about how a new technology might impact your organization. Do you want ONE answer or a RANGE of answers from your team? Any manager worth their salt will hope and expect a wide range of responses.

So, is AI now fatally flawed? No, not really. We, humans, have to ask for more and be more explicit with our AI genie. Instead of a simple prompt like, “Give me an idea for a Christmas Day menu”, we should ask based on our actual needs, “Give me five variations for a Christmas Day menu, including five menus for children five to ten years old, and five menus for vegans.”

Here is the Chat GPT response for the simple prompt:

Here’s a simple but festive Christmas Day menu that feels special without being complicated:

🎄 Cozy Christmas Dinner Menu

Main

Herb-roasted turkey breast (or chicken) with garlic & rosemary
Savory pan gravy

Sides

Creamy mashed potatoes
Maple-glazed carrots
Roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic drizzle
Soft dinner rolls with herb butter

Salad

Cranberry-pear mixed green salad with walnuts & vinaigrette

Dessert

Warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream
or
Classic Christmas cookies & hot chocolate

Drinks

Mulled wine (or sparkling cider for a non-alcoholic option)

It’s traditional, cozy, and crowd-pleasing—but still easy to customize. Want something fancier? Kid-friendly? Vegetarian? Happy to tailor it!

Here is the Chat GPT response to the second prompt:

Absolutely—here are 15 total Christmas Day menu ideas, grouped into standard, kid-friendly, and vegan menus.

🎄 Christmas Day Menus (5 Variations)

Menu 1: Classic Traditional

Roast turkey with herb stuffing
Cranberry sauce & gravy
Mashed potatoes
Green beans with almond slivers
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream

Menu 2: Elegant & Fancy

Beef Wellington
Duchess potatoes
Honey-glazed carrots
Arugula & pear salad with walnuts
Chocolate hazelnut mousse

Menu 3: Cozy Comfort

Honey glazed ham
Scalloped potatoes
Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon
Soft rolls with herb butter
Apple crumble

Menu 4: Rustic European

Herb roasted goose
Garlic roasted root vegetables
Spaetzle or dumplings
Red cabbage with apples
Black forest cake

Menu 5: Coastal Christmas

Baked salmon with lemon & dill
Saffron rice pilaf
Grilled asparagus
Citrus & fennel salad
Key lime pie

🎅 Menus for Kids (Ages 5–10)

Kids Menu 1

Mini turkey sliders
Mashed potatoes
Carrot sticks
Fruit salad
Sugar cookies

Kids Menu 2

Mac & cheese
Chicken tenders
Cornbread
Apple slices
Brownie

Kids Menu 3

Mini pizzas (pepperoni or cheese)
Caesar salad without anchovies
Breadsticks
Ice cream sundae cups

Kids Menu 4

Spaghetti & meatballs
Garlic toast
Simple side salad
Rice Krispie treats

Kids Menu 5

Christmas-shaped pancakes
Scrambled eggs
Bacon (or veggie bacon)
Hot chocolate
Fruit skewers

🌱 Vegan Christmas Menus (5 Ideas)

Vegan Menu 1: Classic Holiday

Vegan roast (seitan, mushroom, or nut loaf)
Gravy
Mashed potatoes with plant butter
Roasted green beans
Cranberry sauce
Vegan pumpkin pie

Vegan Menu 2: Mediterranean

Stuffed peppers with rice & herbs
Lemon roasted potatoes
Greek salad with vegan feta
Olive oil bread
Baklava (vegan)

Vegan Menu 3: Cozy & Rustic

Lentil shepherd’s pie
Balsamic roasted veggies
Sourdough rolls
Vegan chocolate cake

Vegan Menu 4: Festive & Fancy

Wild mushroom risotto
Roasted asparagus
Walnut & pear salad
Vegan tiramisu

Vegan Menu 5: Family Style Comfort

BBQ jackfruit sliders
Sweet potato fries
Coleslaw (vegan mayo)
Corn on the cob
Apple crisp

If you want, I can also:

add dessert-only menus,
give menus for specific cuisines (Italian, Mexican, Indian, British, etc.),
make gluten-free/lactose-free versions,
or help you turn these into full recipes.

In summary, we should not be shy about asking our favorite chatbot for more than one option and to treat it more like Aladdin’s genie than in the past. It may be free (for now), but it is better to be more explicit and to ask for more than one response. My one caveat is that if the lights in your house dim because the chatbot is using too much power from the grid, you may need to ask for only three options.