When Words Become Attacks: Prompt Injection Through a Technical Writing Lens

  • Presentation
  • Content Strategy & Information Architecture
  • Oishi Banerjee

    • IBM

Contents

As AI systems are increasingly embedded in enterprise products and workflows, technical documentation is no longer a passive information artifact. Product documentation, example, and instructional content are now actively consumed by AI systems and can directly influence AI behaviour. This session examines prompt injection not as a coding or hacking issue, but as a technical communication challenge.

Using short, real world examples from enterprise documentation, such as API samples, troubleshooting steps, and error messages, the session explains how language written for human readers can be unintentionally interpreted by AI systems as executable instructions, priority overrides, or contextual commands. Participants will learn how everyday writing choices can introduce risk without malicious intent.

The session then introduces prompt-aware writing patterns, including instruction separation, content containment, and explicit boundary signalling. The talk reframes technical communication as contributors to AI safety, sytsem resilience, and trust, with guidance to apply AI enabled practices in documentation environments

Takeaways

Learn to identify prompt -injection risks in documentation, and apply prompt-aware writing techniques that improve clarity for users while supporting safer, and more predictable AI behaviour 

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge of AI security, prompt engineering, or programming is required; familiarity with AI‑enabled products or documentation environments is helpful but not mandatory.

Speaker

Oishi Banerjee

  • IBM
Biography

I work at IBM India Systems Development Lab (ISDL), Bengaluru, India,  at the intersection of technical communication and AI‑enabled systems. My focus is on how language in documentation influences model behavior, trust, and system reliability within large‑scale, enterprise products.

My work involves collaborating closely with engineering, AI, and platform teams to treat documentation not only as a communication artifact, but as an active component of IBM’s AI‑driven workflows. I am particularly interested in helping technical communicators adapt their practices for responsible AI by applying practical, standards‑aware writing techniques rather than tooling‑heavy approaches.

Through this session, I aim to share applied insights drawn from real enterprise environments, aligned with tcworld’s emphasis on professional practice, knowledge transfer, and the evolving role of technical communication in AI‑enabled organizations.