What is Retrieval Augmented Generation Prompting?

Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) Prompting is one of the well-known prompting techniques used to interact with artificial intelligence models.

• Prompt Type: Tool-Augmented
• Definition: The AI uses up-to-date information from an external source, like a database or the web, to answer a question.
• Typical Use Case: Answering queries requiring real-time or specialized data, such as news or company records.
• Advantages: Provides current, accurate information; reduces reliance on model’s internal knowledge.
• Disadvantages: Depends on access to reliable external sources; may fail if data is unavailable.
• Implementation Tips: Specify the type of source (e.g., “recent web data”) to ensure the AI retrieves relevant information.
• Skill Level Required: Advanced – Requires access to external data sources and understanding of how to integrate them.

Examples:

1. “Using recent weather data, what is the current temperature in New York City?”
2. “Based on the latest stock market data, what is the current price of Apple shares?”
3. “Using a company database, find the sales figures for Q3 2025.”