Show HN: I made a free, open-source extension to refine prompts for AI chats

Recently, during my intensive use of various large language models, I noticed a clear pattern: the quality of AI responses almost entirely depends on the quality of the questions we ask. A vague question can only yield a pile of technically correct but essentially useless answers.

At its core, this falls under the realm of Prompt Engineering.

I looked into several existing prompt optimization tools, but none of them really met my needs:

Unclear data flow: Many tools require sending my question and API key to their servers for processing, which raises concerns about privacy and security.

Overloaded features: I don't need chat history, document management, or other complicated features. I just want to optimize a single action — the moment of asking a question.

Commercialization: Most tools tend toward paid subscriptions or user acquisition funnels.

So, I built on all my own browser extension: HelpMeAsk. My development principles are simple: lightweight, focused, and secure.

Here’s how it works:

Model-powered self-optimization: After you type your question, the plugin calls your specified LLM (e.g., GPT-4o, Claude-3, DeepSeek, etc.) and applies a refined meta prompt that helps the model rewrite your question to be clearer and more structured.

Local API key storage: Your API key is encrypted and stored only in your browser's local storage. No third party — other than you and your AI provider — has access to it.

Direct requests: All API requests are sent directly from your browser to your chosen AI provider. The extension does not use any relay servers and does not log any data.