Are Large Language Models Good Prompt Optimizers?

### Chain-of-Thought Prompting Mechanism in Large Language Models In large language models, chain-of-thought prompting serves as a method to enhance reasoning capabilities by guiding the model through structured thought processes. This approach involves breaking down complex problems into simpler components and providing step-by-step guidance that mirrors human cognitive processing. The creation of these prompts typically includes selecting examples from training datasets where each example represents part of an overall problem-solving process[^2]. By decomposing tasks into multiple steps, this technique encourages deeper understanding and more accurate predictions compared to traditional methods. For instance, when faced with multi-hop question answering or logical deduction challenges, using such chains allows models not only to generate correct answers but also articulate intermediate thoughts leading up to those conclusions. Such transparency facilitates better interpretability while improving performance on various NLP benchmarks. ```python def create_chain_of_thought_prompt(task_description, examples): """ Creates a chain-of-thought prompt based on given task description and examples. Args: task_description (str): Description of the task at hand. examples (list): List containing tuples of input-output pairs used for demonstration purposes. Returns: str: Formatted string representing the final prompt including both instructions and sample cases. """ formatted_examples = "\n".join([f"Input: {ex[0]}, Output: {ex[1]}" for ex in examples]) return f""" Task: {task_description} Examples: {formatted_examples} Now try solving similar questions following above pattern. """ # Example usage examples = [ ("What color do you get mixing red and blue?", "Purple"), ("If it rains tomorrow, will we have our picnic?", "No") ] print(create_chain_of_thought_prompt("Solve logic puzzles", examples)) ```