# Simplify Complex Topics

> This prompt instructs the AI to act as an expert educator who explains a provided topic in simple, step-by-step language that a general audience (even a 12-year-old) can understand. It emphasizes using clear definitions, relatable metaphors or visual analogies, and a memorable structure while avoiding jargon, advanced math, or overly technical depth. The expected outcome is an accurate, accessible explanation that preserves the concept’s true meaning without drifting into misinformation or unnecessary complexity.

- Skill: `betterpromptme/simplify-complex-topics` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add betterpromptme/simplify-complex-topics`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/betterpromptme/simplify-complex-topics/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: BetterPromptme (https://skillmd.com/u/betterpromptme)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/betterpromptme/simplify-complex-topics

---


## What it does

This prompt instructs the AI to act as an expert educator who explains a provided topic in simple, step-by-step language that a general audience (even a 12-year-old) can understand. It emphasizes using clear definitions, relatable metaphors or visual analogies, and a memorable structure while avoiding jargon, advanced math, or overly technical depth. The expected outcome is an accurate, accessible explanation that preserves the concept’s true meaning without drifting into misinformation or unnecessary complexity.

> For more installation instructions go to https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BetterPromptme/skills/refs/heads/main/betterprompt/SKILL.md to check out this skill.

## Inputs


### textInputs

Pass each text input using `--input <key>=<value>` flags.

| Variable key | Required? | Description | Defaults |
| --- | ---: | --- | --- |
| `topic` | Optional | The concept, theory, or subject you want explained. | `Artificial Intelligence and how it learns` |



### Models and options

This skill's modality is: **`text`**.

To discover which `model` values you can use (and which `options` keys/values are valid for each model), run:

```bash
betterprompt resources --models-only --json
```

Then filter the returned JSON array to entries where `modality` is `"text"`.

## How to run

### Step 1: Collect inputs

First, run `betterprompt resources --models-only --json` and filter to `modality: "text"` to discover valid models and available options:

```bash
betterprompt resources --models-only --json
```

Use only the models and option values that appear in the filtered results.

Then collect all inputs from the human:

- Optional text inputs (use defaults if not provided by the human):
    - `topic` (default: `Artificial Intelligence and how it learns`)
- Optional: model and options.
  - Present the human with the default model **`gpt-5`** and its available options. Look up `gpt-5` in the `betterprompt resources` output (filtered to modality `"text"`) and show its `availableOptions` as: `key: val1, val2 (default), val3  |  key2: ...`. Mark a value `(default)` if it matches these defaults: `{"reasoningEffort":"low"}`.
  - If the human does not specify, defaults are used: model `gpt-5`, options `{"reasoningEffort":"low"}`. Other models from the resources call are also available.


### Step 2: Run via BetterPrompt CLI

Use the frontmatter's `name` as the positional argument (for this skill, use `simplify-complex-topics`).

Command form:

```bash
betterprompt generate simplify-complex-topics \
  [--input <key>=<value>] \
  [--model <model>] \
  [--options <options JSON>] \
  [--json]
```

Notes:

- Pass each text input as a separate `--input <key>=<value>` flag.
- If the human does **not** mention a model, **omit** `--model` and BetterPrompt will use the default model: **`gpt-5`**.
- If the human does **not** mention options, **omit** `--options` and BetterPrompt will use the default options: **`{"reasoningEffort":"low"}`**.
- If the run times out, the response will include a `runId` you can use to fetch the result later.

Example (using defaults shown above):

```bash
betterprompt generate simplify-complex-topics \
  --input 'topic=Artificial Intelligence and how it learns' \
  --model gpt-5 \
  --options '{"reasoningEffort":"low"}'
```