Update: OpenAI Officially Announces Custom Instructions Feature
OpenAI is introducing a new way for users to customize their interactions with ChatGPT, the company’s AI-powered chatbot. The feature will roll out first on ChatGPT.com and the Windows desktop app, and will come to the mobile and MacOS desktop apps in the next few weeks.
New Custom Instructions Menu
The new UI will allow users to specify a preferred name or nickname, their profession, other things they’d like ChatGPT to know about them, and "traits" they’d like the chatbot to have. OpenAI suggests traits like "Chatty," "Encouraging," and "Gen Z." The company suggests introducing yourself to get better, more personalized responses.
What’s New?
The new menu is more of an aesthetic makeover than a deep technical upgrade. The old custom instructions feature used what’s known as prompt engineering to guide ChatGPT’s style and tone. Essentially, it "primed" the AI powering ChatGPT with a paragraph of user-provided instructions so its answers adhered to those requirements and preferences. The new menu still relies on prompt engineering, but presents it in a user-friendlier way.
Availability
The new UI will not be immediately available to ChatGPT users in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, OpenAI said in a tweet on Friday.
Memory Feature
Important to note is that this is unrelated to ChatGPT’s memory feature, which lets users tell ChatGPT explicitly to remember — or forget — something. Somewhat confusingly, ChatGPT "memories" can be personal details — but they can also cover a broader range of conversation-relevant info.
Conclusion
The new custom instructions feature is a step towards making ChatGPT more personalized and user-friendly. While it may not be a major technical upgrade, it presents the existing functionality in a more accessible way. As ChatGPT continues to grow in popularity, it’s likely that OpenAI will continue to refine and expand its features.
FAQs
Q: What is the new custom instructions feature?
A: The new feature allows users to customize their interactions with ChatGPT by specifying a preferred name or nickname, their profession, and "traits" they’d like the chatbot to have.
Q: Is the new feature available to all ChatGPT users?
A: No, the new feature is not immediately available to ChatGPT users in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
Q: How does the new feature differ from the old custom instructions feature?
A: The new feature presents the existing functionality in a more user-friendly way, but still relies on prompt engineering to guide ChatGPT’s style and tone.
Q: Is the memory feature related to the new custom instructions feature?
A: No, the memory feature is a separate feature that allows users to tell ChatGPT explicitly to remember — or forget — something.
