Amanda Askell, a trained philosopher and member of Anthropic’s technical team, is bringing philosophical rigor to the art of AI prompting. In a revealing discussion on Anthropic’s “Ask Me Anything” podcast, Askell explained how her academic background in philosophy from Oxford and New York University has become an unexpected asset in maximizing the effectiveness of AI interactions.
Askell emphasizes that successful AI prompting requires a delicate balance between experimentation and clarity. “It is really hard to distill what is going on because one thing is just like a willingness to interact with the models a lot and to really look at output after output,” she explained. Good prompters, according to Askell, must be “very experimental” and willing to iterate through multiple outputs to refine their approach.
However, experimentation alone isn’t sufficient. Askell’s philosophical training has proven invaluable in teaching her to communicate with precision. “A lot of my job is just being like I try and explain some issue or concern or thought that I’m having to the model as clearly as possible,” she noted. This emphasis on clear, precise communication—a cornerstone of philosophical training—directly translates to more effective AI interactions.
Anthropic has codified this approach in its official guidance. In a “Prompt Engineering Overview” published in July, the company advises users to think of Claude, its flagship chatbot, as “a brilliant, but very new employee (with amnesia) who needs explicit instructions.” The company stresses that Claude lacks context about users’ norms, styles, or preferred working methods, making precise explanation critical for optimal results.
This perspective aligns with broader industry thinking. Veteran venture capitalist Marc Andreessen recently characterized AI as a “thought partner,” noting that “part of the art of AI is what questions to ask it.” Those who master this skill are finding significant financial rewards—prompt engineers now command a median salary of $150,000, according to levels.fyi, a platform tracking tech industry compensation.
The convergence of philosophy and AI represents a fascinating development in the technology sector, demonstrating that humanities training can provide unexpected advantages in cutting-edge technical fields.
Key Quotes
It is really hard to distill what is going on because one thing is just like a willingness to interact with the models a lot and to really look at output after output
Amanda Askell, Anthropic’s resident philosopher, explained on the company’s podcast that effective AI prompting requires extensive experimentation and careful observation of results, emphasizing the iterative nature of the process.
A lot of my job is just being like I try and explain some issue or concern or thought that I’m having to the model as clearly as possible
Askell describes how her philosophical training in clear, precise communication directly applies to her work at Anthropic, making philosophy unexpectedly useful for AI prompting.
Claude does not have context on your norms, styles, guidelines, or preferred ways of working. The more precisely you explain what you want, the better Claude’s response will be
From Anthropic’s official Prompt Engineering Overview, this guidance emphasizes that users must provide explicit instructions to Claude, treating it like a new employee who needs detailed context to perform effectively.
Part of the art of AI is what questions to ask it
Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen highlighted the importance of knowing how to interact with AI systems, framing them as thought partners rather than simple tools, which aligns with Anthropic’s philosophy-informed approach.
Our Take
The emergence of philosophy as a practical skill in AI development represents a fascinating vindication of humanities education in the tech sector. Askell’s role at Anthropic demonstrates that the ability to think clearly and communicate precisely—skills honed through philosophical training—are not just nice-to-have soft skills but essential technical capabilities in the AI era.
What’s particularly noteworthy is how this challenges the STEM-versus-humanities divide that has dominated education debates. The $150,000 salaries for prompt engineers suggest the market is recognizing that effective AI utilization requires more than coding skills—it demands the kind of rigorous thinking about language, meaning, and communication that philosophy teaches.
This also hints at a broader trend: as AI handles more routine technical tasks, uniquely human skills like nuanced communication and conceptual clarity may become increasingly valuable. Organizations should consider how they’re developing these capabilities across their workforce.
Why This Matters
This story highlights a crucial but often overlooked aspect of the AI revolution: the human skill of effective communication is becoming increasingly valuable in the age of artificial intelligence. As AI models become more sophisticated, the ability to interact with them effectively—through clear, precise prompting—is emerging as a critical professional competency.
The involvement of a trained philosopher at a leading AI company like Anthropic signals that humanities expertise has tangible value in shaping AI development and usage. This challenges the narrative that technical skills alone matter in the AI era. The $150,000 median salary for prompt engineers demonstrates real market demand for these communication skills.
For businesses, this underscores the importance of training employees not just on AI tools themselves, but on how to communicate effectively with them. Organizations that invest in prompt engineering capabilities may gain significant competitive advantages. For workers, it suggests that skills in clear thinking and communication—traditionally associated with liberal arts education—are becoming increasingly marketable alongside technical expertise in the AI-driven economy.
Recommended Reading
For those interested in learning more about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and effective AI communication, here are some excellent resources: