Driving tailored output with custom instructions

1. Driving tailored output with custom instructions

Welcome back! In the previous video, we learned how to use web-enabled AI to gather live market data. Now, we'll go a step further - learning how to guide the AI's behavior with custom instructions.

2. Starting from scratch

Imagine you use AI to summarize company filings today - and then again next week. One time it gives you a table, another time a paragraph. Sometimes it includes sources, sometimes not. The data might be right, but the format and tone change every time.

3. What are custom instructions?

Custom instructions are short, persistent guidelines that tell AI how to respond every time you start a chat. You can describe what you're working on, and how you want the responses formatted, summarized, or explained. Without instructions, every AI session starts fresh. With them, the AI remembers your preferences automatically. Think of them as your personal analyst brief that stays active behind every prompt. For finance work, this means every output follows the same structure, tone, and sourcing expectations - without you having to rewrite prompts each time.

4. Example

Let's say you're an analyst producing company summaries. You could write: Always summarize companies in a table format with two columns. Include key metrics and cite at least one source for each figure. Once saved, this instruction applies automatically to every new chat.

5. Example

Here's what that looks like in practice. The first AI output is unstructured and inconsistent. The second, generated with your saved instruction, is formatted correctly, includes citations, and uses a professional tone - ready for a stakeholder slide.

6. Tips for writing instructions

In finance, consistency isn't just about presentation - it's about credibility. Whether it's management reports, investor memos, or ESG updates, custom instructions ensure that every analysis follows policy and tone standards automatically. Keep instructions short, clear, and professional. Use verbs that describe behavior: compare, cite, summarize, format. Avoid emotional or subjective language. You can also edit your instructions anytime. Over time, you might add new requirements -like "include a short executive summary" or "flag any data older than one year." Custom instructions evolve with your workflow.

7. Prompts with parameters

Web-enabled AI gives you access to real-time data; custom instructions let you shape how that data is analyzed and presented. By combining them, you don't just use AI-you manage it. In finance, that means faster, cleaner, and more credible outputs every time.

8. Let's practice!

Try if yourself using Copilot chat!

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