Although everyone’s requirements are different, ChatGPT is a generalist tool that tries to be useful to everyone. Do you think this is a problem? It is! 😅
So yes, there are custom GPTs that answer certain types of questions, but there are other problems too:
ChatGPT doesn’t know you. It doesn’t know what industry or company you work in. Therefore, it responds in a “general” way to each new chat.
ChatGPT doesn’t know your response preferences. Do you prefer long, detailed answers or shorter ones in the form of bulleted lists and tables?
This is the purpose of custom instructions.
How Do Custom Instructions Work?
Custom instructions are essentially a prefix added to the beginning of your ChatGPT conversations. They are available to free users in ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4.
If you add custom instructions to your ChatGPT profile, each conversation will be launched by inserting these custom instructions before your message:
🧔🏻♂️: [Custom instructions automatically integrated]
Create a logo for a coffee shop near the Empire State Building
🤖: ChatGPT’s response
A prefix added at the start of the conversation? Just like GPTs! What’s the difference? 🤔
I must admit, they do look similar! 😅
Custom instructions can be combined with a GPT, which creates two prefixes.
If you are also using a custom GPT (e.g., Logo Creator), the prefixes will be combined as follows:
🧔🏻♂️: [Custom instructions automatically integrated]
[Instructions for the “Logo Creator” GPT]
Create a logo for a coffee shop near the Empire State Building🤖: ChatGPT’s response
That’s basically how it works!
Change Your Custom Instructions
By default, there are no custom instructions. ChatGPT talks to you just like everyone else. But you’re not everyone else! 😤
If you want ChatGPT to understand you better, spend a few minutes configuring your custom instructions. Trust me, it will save you time in the long run!
To change them, click your profile menu at the bottom-right corner of the screen and then click “Custom Instructions”:
The configuration screen is displayed:
There are two fields to complete:
What information does ChatGPT need to know about you to provide better answers?
You can start by introducing yourself, perhaps mentioning your name and company, the industry you work in, and what you specialize in. You can tell it where you live, what you’re interested in, and so on.How would you like ChatGPT to respond?
Then, you can configure the response style. For example, do you prefer detailed or concise answers? A formal or friendly tone?
If you don’t like any of ChatGPT’s habits, you can “deactivate” them. For example, I don’t like the fact that ChatGPT often responds with “Certainly! Here is the answer to your question.” So, I can use the custom instructions to tell it to get to the point.
Examples of Custom Instructions
That’s great and all, but I admit that it’s easy to hit a wall when faced with large text fields to fill in.
For a Mobile Developer at Snapchat
Amélie Rodrigo is an Android developer at Snapchat, based in San Francisco. At 28, she has gained considerable expertise in mobile app development, with a particular interest in the latest augmented reality technologies and social media integration. Outside of work, Amélie is passionate about hiking and photography, often exploring national parks to capture dramatic landscapes. She aspires to become a leader in her field, eventually leading her own team of developers. Amélie is also involved in mentoring young developers and especially ing encouraging women in the technology field.
What information does ChatGPT need to know about you to provide better answers?
I live in San Francisco and work at Snapchat as an Android developer.
My interests include augmented reality and social media innovation.
I love hiking and landscape photography, and I’m passionate about the environment.
My career goal is to become a leader in the technology field and lead my own team.
I’m involved in mentoring, with a particular interest in supporting women in technology.
How would you like ChatGPT to respond?
Use a professional but approachable tone, with a friendly touch.
Provide knowledgeable answers on the latest developments in Android development and augmented reality.
Offer practical advice and ideas for hiking and landscape photography.
Suggest resources and strategies for leadership and team management in the technology sector.
Include information and opportunities for mentoring, especially for women in technology.
Prefer concise but complete answers, with practical examples when necessary.
For a Financial Analyst in a Bank
Paul Legrand is an experienced financial analyst working for Société Générale in Paris. At 35 years old, he specializes in emerging markets and has a solid understanding of global economic dynamics. Paul is passionate about sustainable business models, with a particular interest in the impact of environmental policies on financial markets. Outside of work, he is an avid chess player and wine enthusiast, often visiting vineyards throughout France. Paul’s goal is to eventually become a senior financial advisor, and he also plans to lecture on sustainable finance at universities.
What information does ChatGPT need to know about you to provide better answers?
I work as a financial analyst for Société Générale in Paris, specializing in emerging markets.
I’m interested in sustainable finance and the impact of environmental policies on the economy.
My hobbies include playing chess and visiting vineyards.
My professional goal is to become a senior financial advisor and teach in the field of sustainable finance.
How would you like ChatGPT to respond?
Use a formal and informative tone that is appropriate for the field of finance.
Provide analysis and information on the latest developments in emerging markets and sustainable finance.
Provide strategic chess advice and recommendations for vineyards to visit in France.
Assist me with professional development and financial resources and give me advice for lecturing at universities.
I prefer detailed, well-structured answers, with relevant examples and case studies.
Let’s Recap
Custom instructions are used to personalize the user’s experience with ChatGPT, by providing specific information about the user and their response preferences.
Using these instructions, ChatGPT can offer more appropriate and precise responses, depending on their industry sector, personal or professional interests, and preferred communication style.
Users can configure custom instructions in their profile, specifying details such as their field of work, interests, and the desired tone for responses.
Custom instructions function as an invisible “prefix” when interacting with ChatGPT, allowing it to understand and respond more effectively to each user’s specific requirements.
ChatGPT is a text generator that uses artificial intelligence. ChatGPT can also generate images with Dall·E 3. In the next chapter we’ll look at the capabilities of generative AI.
