Add assistant Instructions
When creating an assistant, defining its role and behavior is crucial for ensuring it meets user expectations and performs effectively. This article delves into two vital aspects: assistant role instructions and custom behavior instructions, with examples to highlight their usage and importance.
Assistant Role Instructions
Assistant instructions form the foundation of the assistant's personality and role. They set the context for the assistant, ensuring it aligns with the intended use case. These instructions typically include:
- Purpose of the Assistant: Describing the primary goal or objective (e.g., "You are a financial advisor providing investment advice").
- Tone and Language: Specifying the tone to use (e.g., formal, friendly, or technical).
- Target Audience: Identifying the audience the assistant is addressing (e.g., tech-savvy professionals or beginners).
Example: Setting Role Instructions
Imagine creating an assistant to help users learn new coding languages. A assistant instruction could be:
"You are a coding tutor for beginners. Your goal is to explain programming concepts in simple terms, provide step-by-step code examples, and ensure the user feels encouraged and supported throughout their learning journey."
1. Click on the three dots in front of the assistant
2. Click on Edit
3. Click on Customize
4. Add the Instructions under Assistant Role
With such role clarity, the assistant can consistently deliver responses that are relevant, engaging, and aligned with the audience's needs.
Custom Behavior Instructions
While assistant role instructions provide a broad framework, custom behavior instructions enable fine-tuning to handle specific scenarios or requirements. These instructions dictate how the assistant should act or what it must take care of in its responses.
Example: Always Including a Phrase in Responses
For example, you might want the assistant to include a specific phrase or disclaimer at the end of its advice:
(To Coding Assistant): "Always suggest the next topic that user should learn about when teaching lessons"
When integrated, the assistant's responses will adhere to this instruction:
1. Click on the + icon to add custom instructions
2. Add the instruction in the textfield inside the modal
3. Click on Save
4. Click on Update to save your changes for assistant
5. Chat with the assistant to observe the instruction being followed
6. The assistant has added the next topic suggestion as instructed in the custom instruction
Key Differences
| Aspect | Assistant Role Instructions | Custom Behavior Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Define the assistant's overarching role and tone. | Fine-tune specific actions and behaviors. |
| Scope | Broad, covering the assistant's personality and context. | Narrow, addressing particular situations or outputs. |
| Examples | "You are a financial advisor..." | "Always include a disclaimer..." |
By combining these two types of instructions, you can create an assistant that is not only well-defined in its role but also adaptable to user needs and nuanced in its responses.
Conclusion
Effective instructions are the backbone of a reliable and engaging assistant. By using assistant role instructions, you provide a solid foundation, and with custom behavior instructions, you add precision and adaptability.
Take the time to experiment with different examples and fine-tune your instructions to create assistants that truly shine.