# Core AI Concepts

These concepts help you build better workflows in StackAI. Start with prompting, then add retrieval and orchestration patterns.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you are new to LLM workflows, start with prompts and embeddings first.
{% endhint %}

### Start with the fundamentals

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th>Concept</th><th data-card-target data-type="content-ref">Page</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Prompt Engineering</strong><br>Write clearer instructions, structure prompts, and improve output reliability.</td><td><a href="/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/YyniJ9zfpaxKz2jmc8cn">/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/YyniJ9zfpaxKz2jmc8cn</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Instruction vs Prompt</strong><br>Separate stable system behavior from task-specific user input.</td><td><a href="/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/IYDJEUNZKKCxmVYpq6C3">/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/IYDJEUNZKKCxmVYpq6C3</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Embeddings</strong><br>Understand how text becomes vectors for semantic search and retrieval.</td><td><a href="/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/rHbvl2f6ab0YxwchTFBK">/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/rHbvl2f6ab0YxwchTFBK</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

### Go deeper into retrieval and orchestration

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th>Concept</th><th data-card-target data-type="content-ref">Page</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Chunking</strong><br>Split content into useful units for stronger retrieval quality.</td><td><a href="/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/S8FXtl5a8zIJdsycEJP2">/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/S8FXtl5a8zIJdsycEJP2</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Using Multiple LLMs</strong><br>Design workflows that route, compare, or chain multiple models.</td><td><a href="/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/yLyBw6HoH9gCE2UUOy6v">/spaces/FSlso1Kjob5CLDrh0dVn/pages/yLyBw6HoH9gCE2UUOy6v</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

### Recommended order

1. Learn [Prompt Engineering](/getting-started/core-ai-concepts/prompt-engineering.md).
2. Learn [Instruction vs Prompt](/getting-started/core-ai-concepts/instruction-vs-prompt.md).
3. Learn [Embeddings](/getting-started/core-ai-concepts/embeddings.md) and [Chunking](/getting-started/core-ai-concepts/chunking.md).
4. Apply them in [Using Multiple LLMs](/getting-started/core-ai-concepts/using-multiple-llms.md).

### Next step

When you are ready to build, move into [Get Started with Workflow Builder](/getting-started/start-here/get-started-with-workflow-builder.md) or follow the [Stack AI Curriculum](/getting-started/learning/stack-ai-curriculum.md).


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.stackai.com/getting-started/core-ai-concepts.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.