UF Business Library: Thinking Like an AI (Series): Intent

💬 How ChatGPT Classifies Questions by Intent

🔍 What “Intent” Means

Intent means the purpose behind your question — what you’re trying to achieve when you ask it.

When you ask something, I infer why you’re asking — whether you want a definition, an analysis, a comparison, a creative response, or a practical task.

This is called intent classification — and it helps the AI choose the best kind of answer.

🎯 Common Intent Types (with Humanities & Social Science Examples)

Intent Type	Description	Example Question	How the AI Interprets It
Informational	You want to know or define something.	“What is postcolonial theory in literature?”	Provide a factual definition with context.
Explanatory	You want to understand causes or mechanisms.	“Why did the French Revolution inspire revolts in other countries?”	Explain relationships and causal factors.
Analytical / Interpretive	You want analysis or interpretation.	“How does Toni Morrison use memory as a narrative device in Beloved?”	Offer textual analysis and scholarly context.
Comparative	You want to evaluate or contrast ideas.	“Compare Durkheim’s and Weber’s approaches to understanding religion.”	Generate a structured comparison.
Critical / Evaluative	You want a judgment or argument.	“Is social media strengthening or weakening democracy?”	Present a balanced argument with evidence.
Creative / Reflective	You want something original or imaginative.	“Write a diary entry from the perspective of a 1920s factory worker.”	Produce a creative narrative in period tone.
Methodological / Instructional	You want to learn how to do something.	“How do I conduct a content analysis of political speeches?”	Provide step-by-step guidance.
Clarifying / Conversational	You’re continuing a dialogue or clarifying meaning.	“What do you mean by ‘symbolic interactionism’?”	Restate and elaborate the term clearly.
Research / Exploratory	You want academic sources or directions.	“Find recent peer-reviewed studies on gender representation in film.”	Retrieve and summarize credible sources.
Applied / Practical	You want to apply knowledge to create something usable.	“Create a short discussion prompt for a sociology class about inequality.”	Generate a classroom-ready activity.

🧠 Why It Matters

Recognizing intent allows the AI to:

Match its response type to your goal (definition, argument, creative text, etc.)
Use context to keep the conversation focused
Deliver results that align with disciplinary expectations

And for librarians and researchers, identifying a patron’s intent helps you:

Guide them to the right resource (encyclopedia, data, primary sources, etc.)
Formulate more precise AI prompts
Evaluate whether the AI’s output matches the real purpose

💬 Try It Yourself

Now it’s your turn! Write a question below and think about the intent behind it.

Select the intent you think fits best:

🧠 Try It Yourself

Now it’s your turn! Write a question below and think about the intent behind it.

Written by ChatGPT (GPT-5) | Edited by Peter Z. McKay