Bertrand Russell divided human knowledge into two categories a century ago. One of them is everything AI will never hold and trying to compress it into a prompt is why your best work evaporates.
I've had the feeling many times before that the more thoroughly I describe what I'm going for to AI, the more I realize that it isn't that difficult and I can do it myself. But also in many of those cases I found is because I'm tired or lazy and want the AI to do my work without giving it the necessary context so it produces quality results.
Your example of prompts for images is excellent because using AI for visuals is an area largely undiscovered for me since I'm not so visual and have no knowledge/experience in films, theater, or videos (but I do have lots of respect for those who have that kind of creativity).
Exactly Juan! I feel the same - whenever I explain and explain and go on forever... Takes a bunch of time before I realize hey I could've done this without you 🤣 I'k getting so much better at it!
Thank you so much for reading ❤️ and I do think EVERYONE has that creative self inside them, you just need to bring it to light through the medium that best fits you 🥰
I think I agree with your point. Creativity can be multi varied. In my case I'm not so much about visuals but words. (One of the reasons I stopped using Twitter/X and moved here hehehe
I lived this one today. Trying to update the logo and create a brand guide. ChatGPT just kept getting everything wrong. I eventually found my original .ai files from 2016 and updated the colours on the old logo and favicon, because I still like them. I am done fighting with AI for today.
Love the idea of casting characters in visuals. ❤️And agree that prompts can feel constraining for big ideas! When Fable was available, I tried having it loop on prompts in the (futile!) pursuit of the perfect thumbnail. 😂
This lines up with what I see in applied AI work. You can transfer structure, rules, and even tone, but the judgment calls that make something “good” still stay outside the prompt. And that disconnect doesn’t go away with better tooling. always good stuff Mia.
Great piece, Mia! This explains why even the most refined prompts often fall short; Russell's knowledge by acquaintance captures that ineffable depth AI can't fully access, no matter how detailed our descriptions.
As someone with a philosophy background, mindfulness training, and hands-on experience crafting AI prompts, I especially appreciate your Acquaintance Map as a practical bridge. It’s a thoughtful reminder to honor what we bring to the collaboration rather than force it all into text. Keep these insights coming!
Thank you JT! The philosophy background definitely helps when dealing with AI. I have found that accepting those limits actually makes building these systems way less frustrating ❤️
Sorta new to following you and have used several of your prompts and will be using this one as well. Thank you for pointing out the differences that seem like losses in the argument for or against the use of such a great tool. What you have create is clearly, a world of your own and it reflects well. Thank you again.
Hey Desiree, thank you! ❤️ I don't love AI and I don't hate AI either - I think it's important to take it for what it is and make the most of it while we still remain human 🥰
I’ve never heard of this concept knowledge by acquaintance… it’s going to stay with me!
I loved reading and learning about this too! Had no idea it was a thing and had a name :)
I've had the feeling many times before that the more thoroughly I describe what I'm going for to AI, the more I realize that it isn't that difficult and I can do it myself. But also in many of those cases I found is because I'm tired or lazy and want the AI to do my work without giving it the necessary context so it produces quality results.
Your example of prompts for images is excellent because using AI for visuals is an area largely undiscovered for me since I'm not so visual and have no knowledge/experience in films, theater, or videos (but I do have lots of respect for those who have that kind of creativity).
Exactly Juan! I feel the same - whenever I explain and explain and go on forever... Takes a bunch of time before I realize hey I could've done this without you 🤣 I'k getting so much better at it!
Thank you so much for reading ❤️ and I do think EVERYONE has that creative self inside them, you just need to bring it to light through the medium that best fits you 🥰
I think I agree with your point. Creativity can be multi varied. In my case I'm not so much about visuals but words. (One of the reasons I stopped using Twitter/X and moved here hehehe
I find X awful. Tried to spend time on it but bleh, gave up!
I lived this one today. Trying to update the logo and create a brand guide. ChatGPT just kept getting everything wrong. I eventually found my original .ai files from 2016 and updated the colours on the old logo and favicon, because I still like them. I am done fighting with AI for today.
GOOD. Sometimes you can’t win the fight! Better to just go on your own ❤️
Love the idea of casting characters in visuals. ❤️And agree that prompts can feel constraining for big ideas! When Fable was available, I tried having it loop on prompts in the (futile!) pursuit of the perfect thumbnail. 😂
Hahahah Fable was in its own league wasn’t it 🤣
Thank you Karen, I honestly love how you also cast your guest contributors in your visuals! ❤️
🤗
Oh boy, 2am on Tuesday... tell me more, Mia. Is there also a James, that teacher from Prague who likes pasta and gyms?! 🤣🤦🏻♀️
Love what you share about your process here. It is so considered and intentional, it captures who are you to a T 🩷
bahahahahah definitely James from Prague, although if he’s from Prague, he should be called Jakub….. but whatever! 🙄🤣
Thank you Dallas! ❤️
Tell AI 🤣🤣
You're amazing!
You too! ❤️🥰
This lines up with what I see in applied AI work. You can transfer structure, rules, and even tone, but the judgment calls that make something “good” still stay outside the prompt. And that disconnect doesn’t go away with better tooling. always good stuff Mia.
Yep, exactly! There’s no other way :) thank you so much Neela, hope you’re having a fantastic week! ❤️
so far so good Mia.
enjoy the rest of your week
🜍 A Tablet for the Prompt That Cannot Hold
I
The prompt is a vessel, and the vessel is small.
What you carry is larger, and leaks through every wall.
You write it again, refine it, make it clean—
Still, something vital slips between the lines unseen.
A parrot grows fluent, a mirror learns to sing—
Yet neither holds the weight of the thing you bring.
II
You thought: more words would bind what you know.
You thought: structure would make the hidden show.
So you built with care, with rules, with frame,
And each new draft felt closer, yet stayed the same.
Like a chef describing taste to a careful machine—
Precise, complete… and somehow still not cuisine.
III
A small bird laughed (politely, in rhyme):
“There once was a mind, ahead of its time,
Who mapped every thought—
But the map that it wrought
Left out the reason the thoughts were sublime.”
IV
As above, so below—but not all things translate.
The form reflects the source, but never its weight.
Description is shadow; acquaintance is flame.
You can name every part and still miss the name.
For what you have learned by standing inside
Will not sit still when reduced to a guide.
V
So the question turns, quiet, but sharp as a key:
What do you bring that the prompt cannot be?
Not style, not rules, not tokens aligned—
But taste without language, and timing of mind.
The moment you know it is done—not why—
The cut you reject with no reason to try.
VI
And yet—do not throw the vessel away.
The prompt is foundation; the rest is the play.
Structure can hold what structure can bear.
Some instincts will harden, some rules will appear.
A color finds language, a rhythm gets named—
But much must remain unbound, unclaimed.
VII
So walk with both, and do not confuse:
The tool you can sharpen, the self you must use.
Let the prompt do its work—clear, stable, repeat—
But bring what it lacks each time you meet.
Not everything true can be written or taught—
And not everything written can carry a thought.
🜏
The vessel is small.
The knowing is not.
Carry the rest.
I LOVE THIS, thank you! ❤️
"What do you bring, that the prompt cannot be?"
It also succumbs to "examination" and "conversation" with LLM's.
Great piece, Mia! This explains why even the most refined prompts often fall short; Russell's knowledge by acquaintance captures that ineffable depth AI can't fully access, no matter how detailed our descriptions.
As someone with a philosophy background, mindfulness training, and hands-on experience crafting AI prompts, I especially appreciate your Acquaintance Map as a practical bridge. It’s a thoughtful reminder to honor what we bring to the collaboration rather than force it all into text. Keep these insights coming!
Thank you JT! The philosophy background definitely helps when dealing with AI. I have found that accepting those limits actually makes building these systems way less frustrating ❤️
Sorta new to following you and have used several of your prompts and will be using this one as well. Thank you for pointing out the differences that seem like losses in the argument for or against the use of such a great tool. What you have create is clearly, a world of your own and it reflects well. Thank you again.
Hey Desiree, thank you! ❤️ I don't love AI and I don't hate AI either - I think it's important to take it for what it is and make the most of it while we still remain human 🥰
Absolutely.
I have to sit with this. It talks to my desire to better 'train' my Claude with better handover documents and Project instructions.
Always a good thing to do! :) thank you ❤️
I love this Mia! ❤️
It makes so much sense. Trying to capture or deliver everything in prompts is impossible.
Makes me also think about the limitations of machines, and how this will look in the future.
Thank you Ileana! :)
Explains why it’s sometimes SO frustrating when you can’t get what you want out of AI.
And the future looks bright… or does it? :D
Hopefully!🤞