Like any AI assistant, how you phrase an ask of the Discovery Agent shapes what you get back. Here are some prompting tips to help Moments Lab platform users get straight to the exact moments they’re looking for in seconds.

Why good prompt technique matters

The Discovery Agent is built to understand natural or conversational language—so you don’t need to worry about using specific keywords or knowing exactly how your archive is organized. However like any AI assistant, how you ask can shape what you get.

This guide shares a few simple tips to help you write better prompts, refine your search, and get straight to the moments you’re looking for.

Start with the ‘why’

Good prompts don’t just describe what you want—they explain why you want it. When the Agent understands the purpose of your ask, it delivers more relevant moments.

Here are some good examples of prompts that provide great context,  explaining the type of content you are looking to create. 

“I’m making a best-of compilation, so I need short, memorable quotes that sum up key achievements.”

“I’m cutting a trailer, and need dynamic crowd reactions to match a fast-paced edit.”

“I’m a researcher for a documentary about climate change, looking for insightful interviews and key visuals that explain the positive impact of wind turbines on reducing greenhouse gases.”

“I’m putting together an event recap, so I’m looking for speaker highlights, applause moments, and people networking.”

💡Tip: Add your specific use case to help the agent prioritize tone, pace, and framing.

Give the agent context

The more background you provide, the better the Discovery Agent can tailor its search and deliver exactly what you need.

Think about who your audience is, where the content will be published, and the video style or format you usually work with. Sharing these details helps the agent understand the bigger picture.

For example, state if you’re creating content for social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok where short, punchy clips work best. On the other hand, creating a documentary for fast channels requires more in-depth interviews and informative visuals. Include these details in your prompt. If you have a creative brief or a set of instructions from your team, copy that into your query too. This helps the agent to completely grasp your intent and focus on what matters most.‍

Be natural, but precise

The Discovery Agent is smart—but it’s not a mind reader. Vague or overly subjective prompts like “something cool” or “a nice clip” are open to interpretation and could lead to underwhelming results.

Here are some good examples of prompts that provide better guidance to the Discovery Agent because they detail types of moments or clips you are looking for, rather than simply providing possibly subjective statements.  

“Looking for quotes where someone talks about overcoming self-doubt or imposter syndrome—ideally in a reflective tone.”

“Clips showing crowded crosswalks, street vendors, traffic during rush hour—no skyline shots.”

“Looking for moments where people are laughing, dancing, or celebrating in a casual setting.”

“Find moments where the audience erupts in applause, or the keynote speaker delivers a bold, memorable line.”

💡Tip: Break down abstract ideas into visuals, soundbites, or feelings.

Tell it what kind of content you want

Be clear about the format or type of moment you’re after. The Discovery Agent can return a sequence, a shot, a soundbite or even full videos—but it helps to be specific.

If you're looking for …

A single shot (e.g. visual b-roll)

Try saying …

“I need a wide shot of a crowded train platform during rush hour—no dialogue, just ambient.”

If you're looking for …

A moment (a short stretch of narrative or action)

Try saying …

“Show moments of someone prepping food in a kitchen—from chopping ingredients to plating up.”

If you're looking for …

A photo (a still image)

Try saying …

“A photo of a busy urban intersection at night—long exposure with light trails from traffic.”

If you're looking for …

A soundbite (short spoken quote or moment)

Try saying …

“Find a soundbite where someone talks about overcoming self-doubt—under 10 seconds, emotionally delivered.”

If you're looking for …

A full video (self-contained clip or story)

Try saying …

“Do we have a full video on our latest community outreach project—ideally under 2 minutes?”

Use follow-ups to narrow your search

Think of your interactions with the Discovery Agent as a conversation. You don’t need to restart from scratch—just refine.

Include the following instructions in your first prompt or use them in follow-up prompts:

• “Only show clips that are three minutes in duration”
  
  
• “Show aerial shots, wide shots, close up shots”
  
  
• “Only show results from the 1990s, only show results from last week, month or year”
  

💡Tip: The Agent remembers your previous prompt—so you can iterate naturally.

Follow these tips when using the Discovery Agent on the Moments Lab video discovery platform to level up your search experience, and uncover moments you may not have even known were there.

Have questions? Simply get in touch, we’re here to help!