[WSJF-5] Encode extraction preferences explicitly in AI prompt #10

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opened 2026-06-27 10:45:28 +02:00 by bullitt · 0 comments

bullitt commented

2026-06-27 10:45:28 +02:00

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Context

Article: 'Explicit preference encoding — language shapes output unexpectedly.'

Problem

Our AI prompt doesn't encode preferences like:

'Prefer shorter, human-readable titles (not full subject lines)'
'Always try to extract tracking number from URLs in the HTML'
'For DHL, the piececode parameter IS the tracking number'

Proposal

Add a preferences section to SYSTEM_PROMPT with 5-8 explicit extraction preferences learned from real-world testing. Examples:

Title should be merchant name or product, max 40 chars
If no tracking number in body, look in href URLs for piececode/match/tracknum params
Status mapping: 'Zustellung' = out_for_delivery, 'unterwegs' = in_transit

WSJF: 5

## Context Article: 'Explicit preference encoding — language shapes output unexpectedly.' ## Problem Our AI prompt doesn't encode preferences like: - 'Prefer shorter, human-readable titles (not full subject lines)' - 'Always try to extract tracking number from URLs in the HTML' - 'For DHL, the piececode parameter IS the tracking number' ## Proposal Add a preferences section to SYSTEM_PROMPT with 5-8 explicit extraction preferences learned from real-world testing. Examples: - Title should be merchant name or product, max 40 chars - If no tracking number in body, look in href URLs for piececode/match/tracknum params - Status mapping: 'Zustellung' = out_for_delivery, 'unterwegs' = in_transit ## WSJF: 5