Be Careful What You Wish For… (or How Writing a Good Prompt Can Save You from a Genie’s Tricks)

Ever wonder how a genie might twist your wish into something you technically asked for—but absolutely didn’t want? Bad wording leads to bad results. And honestly, it’s the same with writing good AI prompts or clear instructions in real life.

If you’re vague, you get vague (or disastrous) results. If you’re too broad, you risk misinterpretation. But if you craft a clear, precise, and detailed request? You get exactly what you want.

So let’s have some fun. Here are three classic wishes, how bad wording could ruin them, and the perfect way to phrase them to get exactly what you intended.

Wish 1: Financial Wealth

Bad Wording:

1. “I wish to be a millionaire.” → The genie gives you a million pesos (about $55,000 USD).

2. “I wish to have endless money.” → The genie prints counterfeit bills, landing you in prison for fraud.

3. “I wish for a bank account with a billion dollars.” → The genie creates the account, but it belongs to someone else, and you get arrested for theft.

Great Prompt:

“I wish to have a legally acquired, tax-free, and inflation-protected net worth of at least $100 million USD, fully under my control, deposited into a reputable financial institution, with no negative consequences to myself, my family, or anyone else.”

✅ Clear? Yes. Room for genie tricks? No.

Wish 2: Eternal Youth & Health

Bad Wording:

1. “I wish to be young forever.” → The genie turns you into a baby with no way to age.

2. “I wish to never get sick.” → The genie removes your immune system, so you carry infections without feeling sick—until you suddenly drop dead.

3. “I wish to live forever.” → The genie makes you immortal but not invincible, so you’re stuck aging, suffering, and unable to die.

Great Prompt:

“I wish to have perfect health, vitality, and youthful energy for as long as I choose to live, maintaining my current adult age and mental faculties, with the ability to end my life peacefully and on my own terms if I ever desire.”

✅ Covers all loopholes. No accidental zombie immortality.

Wish 3: Super Intelligence

Bad Wording:

1. “I wish to be the smartest person in the world.” → The genie makes everyone else dumber instead of making you smarter.

2. “I wish to know everything.” → The genie overloads your brain with infinite knowledge, and you become catatonic.

3. “I wish to have genius-level intelligence.” → The genie gives you a genius IQ but no social skills, so you’re miserable and alone.

Great Prompt:

“I wish to have an extremely high level of intelligence, wisdom, and problem-solving ability, allowing me to learn and apply knowledge effortlessly while maintaining emotional intelligence, social skills, and a fulfilling, balanced life.”

✅ Smart AND socially functional. No lonely, tortured genius life.

The Lesson? Good Prompts = Good Results.

Whether you’re asking a genie for three wishes, writing an AI prompt, or just giving instructions to someone, details matter. A great prompt is clear, specific, and leaves no room for misinterpretation.