Quick start: Prompt a foundation model using Prompt Lab
Quick start: Prompt a foundation model using Prompt Lab Take this tutorial to learn how to use the Prompt Lab in watsonx.ai. There are usually multiple ways to prompt a foundation model for a successful result. In the Prompt Lab, you can experiment with prompting different foundation models, explore sample prompts, as well as save and share your best prompts. See [Prompt tips](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/analyze-data/fm-prompt-tips.html) to help you successfully prompt most text-generating foundation models. Required services : Watson Studio : Watson Machine Learning Your basic workflow includes these tasks: 1. Open a project. Projects are where you can collaborate with others to work with data. 2. Open the Prompt Lab. The Prompt Lab lets you experiment with prompting different foundation models, explore sample prompts, as well as save and share your best prompts. 3. Type your prompt in the prompt editor. You can type prompts in either freeform and structured mode. 4. Select the model to use. You can submit your prompt to any of the models supported by watsonx.ai. 5. Save your work as a projet asset. Saving your work as a project asset makes your work available to collaborators in the current project. Read about prompting a foundation model Foundation models are very large AI models. They have billions of parameters and are trained on terabytes of data. Foundation models can perform a variety of tasks, including text-, code-, or image generation, classification, conversation, and more. Large language models are a subset of foundation models used for text- and code-related tasks. In IBM watsonx.ai, there is a collection of deployed large language models that you can use, as well as tools for experimenting with prompts. [Read more about Prompt Lab](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/analyze-data/fm-prompt-lab.html) Watch a video about prompting a foundation model ![Watch Video](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/images/lc-video.png) Watch this video to preview the steps in this tutorial. There might be slight differences in the user interface shown in the video. The video is intended to be a companion to the written tutorial. This video provides a visual method to learn the concepts and tasks in this documentation. Try a tutorial to prompt a foundation model In this tutorial, you will complete these tasks: * [Task 1: Open a project](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=enstep01) * [Task 2: Use the Prompt Lab in Freeform mode](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=enstep02) * [Task 3: Use the Prompt Lab in Structured mode](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=enstep03) * [Task 4: Use the sample prompts](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=enstep04) * [Task 5: Choose a foundation model](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=enstep05) * [Task 6: Adjust model parameters](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=enstep06) * [Task 7: Save your work](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=enstep07) Expand all sections * Tips for completing this tutorial ### Use the video picture-in-picture Tip: Start the video, then as you scroll through the tutorial, the video moves to picture-in-picture mode. Close the video table of contents for the best experience with picture-in-picture. You can use picture-in-picture mode so you can follow the video as you complete the tasks in this tutorial. Click the timestamps for each task to follow along.The following animated image shows how to use the video picture-in-picture and table of contents features: ![How to use picture-in-picture and chapters](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/images/pip-and-chapters.gif){: width="560px" height="315px" data-tearsheet="this"} ### Get help in the community If you need help with this tutorial, you can ask a question or find an answer in the [watsonx.ai Community discussion forum](https://community.ibm.com/community/user/watsonx/communities/community-home/digestviewer?communitykey=81927b7e-9a92-4236-a0e0-018a27c4ad6e){: new_window}. ### Set up your browser windows For the optimal experience completing this tutorial, open Cloud Pak for Data in one browser window, and keep this tutorial page open in another browser window to switch easily between the two applications. Consider arranging the two browser windows side-by-side to make it easier to follow along. ![Side-by-side tutorial and UI](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/images/tutorial-side-by-side-wx.png){: width="560px" height="315px" data-tearsheet="this"} Tip: If you encounter a guided tour while completing this tutorial in the user interface, click Maybe later. [Back to the top](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=envideo-preview) * Task 1: Open a project You need a project to store Prompt Lab assets. Watch a video to see how to create a sandbox project and associate a service. Then follow the steps to verify that you have an existing project or create a sandbox project. This video provides a visual method to learn the concepts and tasks in this documentation. 1. From the watsonx home screen, scroll to the Projects section. If you see any projects listed, then skip to [Task 2](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=enstep02). If you don't see any projects, then follow these steps to create a project. 1. Click Create a sandbox project. When the project is created, you will see the sandbox project in the Projects section. For more information or to watch a video, see [Creating a project](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/projects.html){: new_window}. \ ![Checkpoint icon](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/images/checkmark--filled-blue.svg){: iih} Check your progress The following image shows the home screen with the sandbox listed in the Projects section. You are now ready to open the Prompt Lab. ![Home screen with sandbox project listed.](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/images/wx-home-screen.png){: width="100%" } [Back to the top](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/getting-started/get-started-prompt-lab.html?context=cdpaas&locale=envideo-preview) * Task 2: Use the Prompt Lab in Freeform mode ![preview