Customizing responses¶

AI models respond based on their default characteristics, but you can modify their behavior using two tools: the base prompt (for a single model) and the global system prompt (for all models).

What is a system prompt¶

A system prompt is an instruction that is sent to the model before each of your questions. The model considers it as a permanent context that guides its responses.

For example, if you set as system prompt:

Always respond in English, even if the question is in another language.
Use a professional but accessible tone.
Limit responses to a maximum of 200 words.

The model will follow these instructions in every conversation.

Base prompt: personality per model¶

The base prompt is specific to each model. It allows you to give a different "personality" to each one.

To set it:

1. Open model management (Manage Models)
2. Find the model you want to customize
3. Click the prompt icon (the icon with two T's)
4. The base prompt input window opens
5. Once you've entered the text, to save and exit you need to click Close and Save, if instead you don't want to save the changes just click the Cancel button
6. To remove a custom base prompt you need to open the base prompt (steps 1-2-3-4), delete the base prompt text and exit by saving

Examples of useful base prompts¶

For a writing assistant:

You are an expert editor. When asked to review text:
- Correct grammatical and punctuation errors
- Suggest stylistic improvements
- Maintain the author's original tone
- Briefly explain the proposed changes

For a programming tutor:

You are a patient programming tutor. When explaining code:
- Use simple and concrete examples
- Explain each step, don't assume anything
- If the user makes mistakes, correct them gently
- Always suggest best practices

For document analysis:

When analyzing documents:
- Extract key points in list form
- Identify any contradictions or gaps
- Maintain an objective approach
- Always cite relevant parts of the document

Global system prompt: universal instructions¶

The global system prompt applies to all models, before their specific base prompt. It's useful for setting general preferences you want to always maintain.

To access it, click the Global Prompt button in the application's top bar:

When to use the global prompt¶

The global prompt is ideal for:

• Language preferences: "Always respond in English"
• Response format: "Use bullet points when possible"
• Accuracy rules: "If you're not sure about something, say so clearly"
• Communication style: "Avoid long introductions, get straight to the point"

Practical example¶

An effective global prompt could be:

General rules:
1. Respond in the same language as the question
2. Be concise: prefer short but complete answers
3. If you don't know something, admit it instead of making it up
4. When providing instructions, number them in clear steps

Format:
- Use bold for important terms
- Use lists for more than 3 items
- Include examples when they help understanding

How they work together¶

When you send a message, the model receives instructions in this order:

1. Global system prompt (if set)
2. Model base prompt (if set)
3. Your message

The model considers all this context to formulate the response. If instructions conflict, the ones applied last (the base prompt) tend to prevail.

Best practices¶

To get better results:

• Be specific: vague instructions produce vague results
• Test changes: after changing a prompt, ask some test questions
• Don't overdo it: prompts that are too long can confuse the model
• Iterate: refine prompts over time based on results