Why AI Struggles with Context (and What You Can Do About It)
Key Takeaways
- AI tools don’t “know” your situation — they only respond to what you give them.
- Many weak outputs are the result of unclear or missing context, not poor technology.
- You can dramatically improve results by giving your AI tool a simple background brief.
- Framing matters: tell the tool what role it’s playing, who it’s helping, and what you’re trying to do.
- Good prompts are generous with information — not just clever with words.
Why Does AI Sometimes Miss the Mark?
Ever had an AI response that felt:
Too generic?
Off-target?
Like it didn’t “get” what you were trying to do?
Chances are, it wasn’t the tool — it was the lack of context.
AI doesn’t come with a memory of your business, your team, or your preferences. It works with what you give it — and if you don’t give it enough, it fills in the blanks with something average.
What Do We Mean by Context?
In a conversation with a colleague, you don’t have to re-explain:
- What your business does
- Who your customers are
- What tone you like
- Why you’re working on this task in the first place
But with an AI tool, you do.
Think of it like working with a smart intern on day one.
If you don’t brief them, they’ll guess — and get it wrong.
Examples: How Context Changes Output
❌ Basic Prompt:
“Write a welcome email for our new subscribers.”
✅ With Context:
“You’re writing a welcome email for a new subscriber to our monthly business strategy newsletter. They’re mostly time-pressed SME owners who want practical advice in a warm, informal tone.”
Result:
The second version isn’t just better written — it feels closer to your voice and intent.
❌ Basic Prompt:
“Summarise this meeting.”
✅ With Context:
“You’re a team assistant creating a summary of a cross-functional product meeting. Focus on decisions made, questions raised, and next steps. Keep it to three bullet points per topic.”
Result:
Less ramble, more relevance.
What Kind of Context Should You Include?
Here’s a quick framework you can drop into almost any prompt:
- Who’s the audience?
- “This is for my client / board / junior team / newsletter subscribers…”
- What’s the purpose?
- “I’m trying to clarify, simplify, persuade, or explore…”
- What role should AI play?
- “Act like a strategist / editor / facilitator / analyst…”
- What output do you want?
- “Summarise in bullet points / give step-by-step actions / suggest three options…”
Try This Prompt Template
“You are [role]. You are helping me [goal]. The audience is [description]. Please format the output as [structure or style].”
Example:
“You are a strategist helping me plan a team workshop. The audience is senior leaders who are curious but sceptical about AI. Please format the output as 3 high-level talking points followed by 2 actionable suggestions under each.”
Why This Matters
When people say “AI isn’t very good,” what they often mean is:
“AI didn’t read my mind.”
But it’s not supposed to.
AI is at its best when it’s treated as a smart assistant with zero context — and given what it needs to succeed.
Better inputs = better outcomes.
Let’s Explore AI Together
At Maine Associates, we help teams build real-world confidence with AI — not through theory, but through hands-on learning.
If your team’s been disappointed by AI results, it might be a context problem — not a capability one. Let’s explore how smarter prompts can unlock better thinking.