Custom instructions: how to make AI answer your way

Every time you open a new chat, the AI knows nothing about you. That is why so many people repeat the same sentences at the start of each request: “I am a teacher”, “answer in bullets”, “use simple language”.

Custom instructions solve this. You write once who you are and how you like answers, and the AI takes that into account in every conversation.

Where to find them

Menus change often, so look for these names in the settings:

• ChatGPT: in settings, under Personalization, the custom instructions option. There is one field about you and another about how ChatGPT should respond.
• Claude: in your profile settings, in the field for personal preferences Claude should consider in its responses.
• Gemini: in settings, in the area for saved info or instructions for Gemini.

Instructions usually apply to new conversations, and temporary or incognito chats tend to ignore them.

What to write

Think about everything you usually explain at the start of a chat. The most useful points are:

• Your field and most common tasks. “I work in customer support at a software company.”
• Your level of knowledge. “I am not technical” changes the language of the answers a lot.
• The format you prefer. Bullets, tables, short texts, step by step.
• The tone. More formal, more direct, more casual.
• Rules that always apply. “When you are not sure, say so.” “Do not make up data or sources.”

Avoid sensitive personal data there, such as ID numbers, your address, or health or client information. The instructions go along with every conversation.

Templates to copy

Adapt what is in brackets.

For general use at work:

I work as a [role] at a [industry] company. My most common tasks
are [task 1], [task 2] and [task 3].
I prefer concise answers, in bullets, with practical examples.
When there is more than one option, compare pros and cons in a table.
If you are not sure about something, say so. Do not make up data or sources.

For teachers:

I teach [subject] to [grade level] students
aged [age] to [age].
When you create activities, use age-appropriate language, include the answer key at the end
and suggest an adaptation for students who struggle more.

For people learning to code:

I am learning [language] and I am still a beginner.
Explain code line by line when it is new to me
and tell me why one solution is better than another.
I prefer small, complete examples that I can run.

For content writers:

I write content for [channel or site] for a [industry] brand.
The audience is [audience] and the brand's tone is [tone].
Avoid clichés, catchphrases and too many emojis.
When I ask for ideas, give me at least 5 options that differ from each other.

Custom instructions or prompt?

They complement each other. Instructions hold what applies to almost everything. The prompt brings what is specific to the task at hand: the goal, the current context, the format and the limits of that request.

If a rule only makes sense for one kind of task, such as “always include the answer key”, it may fit better in a project or a saved prompt than in your general instructions. See the difference between prompts, instructions, projects and other features.

Review them from time to time

Your work changes, and your instructions should keep up. If answers start coming out too long, too formal or off target, the cause may be in the instructions. Open them, reread them and adjust.

For everyday requests, use the prompt builder, which organizes the task into the 4 pillars and writes the full prompt.