Enabling and Utilizing the Custom Instructions Feature in ChatGPT: Users can now give ChatGPT their own ‘custom instructions’ on how it should respond to them and what it should know about them to facilitate that.
The new beta feature is only available for ChatGPT Plus users. Enable it from ChatGPT’s Settings & Beta > Beta features, and select the new ‘custom instructions’ option to add your instructions.
These instructions apply across sessions and chats, functioning as ChatGPT’s memory and, dare we say, personality, that informs and colors its responses.
With custom instructions, ChatGPT’s response style can be molded to be whatever you desire.
Everyone utilises ChatGPT differently. So why should ChatGPT not address you or conform to your preferences across all its conversations with you? Well, starting now, it will.
Thanks to a new feature called ‘custom instructions’, users will get greater control over how ChatGPT responds to them across conversations, remembers who they are, and why they’re using ChatGPT. Here’s everything you need to know to set custom instructions to ChatGPT.
Enabling and Utilizing the Custom Instructions Feature in ChatGPT: What are ‘custom instructions’ on ChatGPT?
‘Custom instructions’ is a new beta feature that’s presently available only to ChatGPT Plus users.
Earlier, if ChatGPT was given a set of instructions on how to behave or reply, even when the prompt was detailed and explicit, it seemed to reset after a few minutes, so that one had to remind it to ‘stay in character’ again, which was a frustrating but expected limit of GPT-3. The instructions also never carried over to a new conversation.
But now, users can, by sharing a bit of information that they believe ChatGPT should know about them and how it should respond to their prompts, they don’t just unlock a memory, but also a style.
Designed to save time and effort, these custom instructions are applied across all future chats, so you don’t have to give ChatGPT the same instructions over and over again, such as “Explain to me like I’m in 10th grade” if you’re a 10th-grade student, say, or tell it about your work so it can help you with that.
With custom instructions, ChatGPT will not only ‘stay in character’ throughout your chat and your sessions, and save time, but also converse with you depending on how you want it to reply. This is an important step towards making ChatGPT a genuinely personal AI chatbot.
Enabling and Utilizing the Custom Instructions Feature in ChatGPT: How to set custom instructions on ChatGPT
If you already have ChatGPT Plus, click on the three dots at the bottom left corner next to your username.
Select Settings & Beta.
Click on Beta features on the left.
On the right, toggle on Custom instructions.
Then click on the three dots at the bottom left again.
You’ll see a new option for Custom instructions. Click on it.
Click OK.
Here, you will see two inquiry boxes. In the first one, you are requested to provide some information about yourself, such as where you are based, your work, hobbies, passions, etc.
If you’re not positive where to begin, click on the Show tips button at the bottom right of the box.
Take these suggestions into account when considering what to communicate.
And then provide it with your fundamental information.
In the second box, provide ChatGPT with instructions on how it should respond to you, including the desired tone, duration, etc.
Click the ‘Show recommendations’ button for suggestions.
Here are some queries you can start to answer.
Then, enter the type of responses you wish to receive from ChatGPT.
Once complete, select Save.
Ensure that you are on GPT-4.
You are now prepared to begin speaking with ChatGPT based on your specific instructions. You should notice the difference immediately.
You can experiment with modifying the custom instructions by selecting ‘Custom instructions’ from the menu on the bottom left and tinkering with them until you discover the precise way you wish to shape its responses.
Customise ChatGPT with specific instructions: What can it be used for?
As demonstrated previously, these custom instructions can be as creative or bizarre as you like, and they will determine ChatGPT’s tone and manner. Depending on the specifics of your instructions, you can experiment with a variety of conversational approaches.
Regardless of one’s profession or area of interest, this customization is destined to be useful. Anyone can curate instructions based on how they would like ChatGPT to sound, and sharing this information with ChatGPT will help it “stay in character.”
Specifying the programming languages of interest so that ChatGPT generates code only in those languages without requiring the user to add that information to the prompt is a simple sell to programmers. Or, one could simply transform ChatGPT into a childhood friend with whom one can hang out and have casual conversations.
The more information you provide about your interests (and the reason you use ChatGPT), such as programming, cuisine, music, learning, etc., the more ChatGPT will be able to determine on what topics it will interact with you. And the more instructions you provide to form its responses, the more precisely you can personalise your chatbot according to your preferences.
How to disable chat history in ChatGPT
Enabling and Utilizing the Custom Instructions Feature in ChatGPT: Are your data secure using ChatGPT?
All of this also means that OpenAI will continue to use the information you provide to enhance the model. If you are uncomfortable with OpenAI using your data, do not provide any sensitive information that could get you in trouble or otherwise compromise your security. If you don’t mind sharing a small amount of information about yourself to customise and personalise ChatGPT, you can construct your very own AI chatbot.
Enabling and Utilizing the Custom Instructions Feature in ChatGPT: FAQ
How do I apply custom instructions to the iOS version of ChatGPT?
To use custom instructions on the iOS app for ChatGPT, select ‘Settings’, then ‘New Feature’, and then ‘Custom instructions’. The subsequent actions are identical.
When will ChatGPT’s gratis custom instructions be available?
OpenAI’s only announcement at this time is that it will be rolled out progressively to all ChatGPT users. Depending on how the beta feature performs in its test with Plus subscribers, this could take between a few weeks and a few months.
Providing your own set of instructional memory to ChatGPT not only saves a considerable amount of time, but also represents a major advancement in terms of the control it now grants users over ChatGPT. We trust this guide has been of assistance. Until next time!
