Prompt Starters
Prompt starters is an AI UX pattern that shows example prompts or suggested actions on an empty conversation screen, before the user has typed anything. Examples like "Write a professional email" or "Explain quantum computing" demonstrate capability and remove the blank-page problem, helping new users understand what to ask and how to phrase it.
When to use
Essential for AI chat interfaces, writing tools, and applications where showing example prompts helps users discover capabilities and overcome the blank page problem.
When not to use
- Returning power users who already have a clear task; static starters become visual clutter after the first session.
- Highly specialized tools where generic starters cannot represent the narrow, expert-level queries the product expects.
- Interfaces where the input itself already has strong placeholder text doing the same job.
Anti-patterns
- The same four starters shown to every user regardless of their role or prior usage.
- Starters that showcase capabilities the product cannot actually deliver well yet.
- No way to dismiss or refresh starters, so they persist as noise once a user is experienced.
- Vague starters like "Ask me anything" that do not model good prompting behavior.
How products use it
| Product | Implementation |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Rotating example prompts appear on the empty new-chat screen. |
| Claude | Suggested prompts on first load model different task categories the assistant handles. |
| Notion AI | Empty-state suggestions demonstrate writing, summarizing, and brainstorming actions. |
| Google Gemini | Starter cards on the home screen surface varied use cases at first launch. |
Use this pattern in your project
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Pattern Definition:Real-world examples
How shipped products implement prompt starters, from our teardown guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is the prompt starters pattern in AI chat UX?
Prompt starters are example prompts shown on an empty chat screen before the user types anything, giving concrete suggestions like "Summarize this article" so new users understand the assistant's capabilities without facing a blank input field.
Do prompt starters actually improve first-session engagement?
Yes, they lower the barrier for users unsure how to phrase a request, which is especially valuable for first-time users encountering an open-ended text box with no other guidance.
Should prompt starters change based on the user?
Ideally yes. Personalizing starters by role, past usage, or recency (e.g. "continue where you left off") keeps them useful past the first session instead of becoming static, ignorable chrome.
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