1. Custom instructions
Welcome back!
2. Introduction to custom instructions
Having to start each conversation with ChatGPT from scratch is a lot of friction. Different personas have different needs: an 8th-grade math teacher, a writer crafting their next book, or a programming aficionado. Each requires unique interactions with ChatGPT.
3. Introduction to custom instructions
What if ChatGPT could become a personalized assistant that knows who you are, what you do, and how you like to be responded to?
4. Introduction to custom instructions
Custom instructions do exactly that.
5. Example: Without custom instructions
Let’s bring this to life with an example.
“I want to write my next piece of content on a concept in AI. What should I consider?”
Without custom instructions, here’s what ChatGPT proposed:
ChatGPT’s response is bland and lacks personalization. It doesn’t know why ‘I’ am interested in AI content.
6. Example: With custom instructions
Here’s what ChatGPT suggests after I engaged Custom Instructions:
How awesome is this? With custom instructions, ChatGPT suggests personalized writing topics. It understands my interests intersect startups and AI, agentic workflows, and RAG systems.
7. Example: With custom instructions
But it doesn’t just stop there. ChatGPT also highlights inspiration from my favorite writers that I can infuse into the content. This thing is magical.
Without Custom Instructions, it’s like driving a supercar in first gear. Let’s take a look at how you can set up Custom Instructions for yourself.
8. Setting up custom instructions
Log into ChatGPT and click on your headshot. Then, navigate to “Customize ChatGPT.”
9. Setting up custom instructions
You’ll see two boxes.
10. Setting up custom instructions
“What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses?” and...
11. Setting up custom instructions
“How would you like ChatGPT to respond?”.
When I saw these two boxes for the first time, I felt overwhelmed and clicked off. There’s nothing worse than staring at a blank box.
12. Setting up custom instructions
But let’s break down each of these inputs together so that you have the guiding hand I wish I always had.
13. Box 1: About you
First, box number 1. “What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses?”. Think of this as your ‘about’ page. Fill it with biographical information.
14. Box 1: About you
Here’s mine.
My name is Alex Banks. I’m a founder, creator, and investor. I write Sunday Signal, a weekly newsletter that combines AI highlights with broader insights that intrigue and inspire. I discuss my writing on LinkedIn and Twitter and highlight who inspires me. I then finish with my personal goals. For me, I want to work on clear communication and become a better listener.
15. Box 1: About you (4 A’s)
To help you write yours, use the “4A’s”: About, Attractions, Aspirations, and Additions.
16. Box 1: About you (4 A’s)
If brainstorming is hard, get ChatGPT to summarise your LinkedIn profile or ask a friend for pointers.
17. Box 2: Response style
Next is the second box. “How would you like ChatGPT to respond?”. Think of this as the voice ChatGPT uses.
18. Box 2: Response style
Depending on your response preferences, consider the following tradeoffs for how you’d like ChatGPT to respond:
19. Box 2: Response style
ChatGPT can sometimes grind my gears with all the safety talk and moral lectures when I’m hunting for an answer. “I’m not a legal professional,” “I’m not a doctor,” or “I’m not a financial advisor”... the list goes on. I’ve found a great way to bypass this is to include the following.
20. Box 2: Response style
This was inspired by Jeremy Howard, the co-founder of Fast.ai.
21. Box 2: Response style
ChatGPT excels at connecting thoughts across domains for new inspiration. I added: I like connecting my thoughts across domains to find new inspiration. Add a ‘Creative link’ and ‘AI reference’ to each response.
22. Box 2: Response style example
Let’s examine this in action. I’ll ask ChatGPT about the importance of the drag reduction system on Formula 1 cars.
ChatGPT provides a great reference to AI at the end as well as a creative link to pharmaceuticals. It allows you to effortlessly pull on new ideas to spark your creativity.
23. Wrap up
Custom instructions transform your ChatGPT experience. Instead of a prompt that gathers your preferences for just one conversation, custom instructions let you set your preferences for all future conversations, eliminating repetition.
24. Let's practice!
You can now tailor ChatGPT to better suit your needs. It’s time to dive into the exercises where you’ll put your newfound Custom Instruction abilities to the test.