Can Microsoft Save Us from Bad Prompts (and Ourselves)?

If you’ve ever typed a heartfelt AI prompt like “Explain this Excel formula” and got back a digital fever dream, congratulations—you’ve met the modern workplace productivity loop. We ask, the AI misfires, we rephrase, the AI misfires again… until we either give up or open another tab to cry into Google Sheets.

Microsoft watched this circus long enough and said, “Okay, humans clearly need bumpers.” Enter Promptions—a shiny new UI framework that replaces your vague “please just do the thing” with clear, clickable options. It’s part prompt, part settings menu, all damage control.

Instead of rewriting prompts like a frustrated novelist, users get on-screen choices like tone, depth, or learning goal. Now, instead of saying, “Explain this like I’m new,” you can literally click “Explain like I’m new.” It’s idiot-proofing by design—and we love it.

Behind the scenes, Promptions sits quietly between you and the language model like a friendly translator who’s good at reading vibes. It analyzes what you’ve been talking about, then spawns these interactive controls in real time. No storing your data, no complicated setup—basically, the middle child of AI design: does all the work, gets none of the credit.

When Microsoft tested it, users rejoiced at how much easier it was to get useful answers without writing prompts long enough to qualify as literature. But there was a catch: people didn’t always understand exactly what each option did until after they clicked it. It’s a little like flipping random switches in a spaceship—sure, eventually you’ll fly, but you might eject the co-pilot first.

The company insists this tweak could standardize how AI fits into large organizations—less “guess what I mean,” more “select what I want.” It’s not just prompt engineering anymore; it’s prompt ergonomics.

So, no, Promptions won’t magically make AI perfect. But it might just save your brain from another “why did it answer like that?” meltdown. Microsoft’s message to users everywhere: stop typing paragraphs, start clicking buttons—and maybe, just maybe, enjoy your coffee while it’s still warm.

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