4 ms·

Just set a global prompt to tell it what kind of tone to take. I did that and it points out flaws in my arguments or data all the time. Plus it no longer uses

Just set a global prompt to tell it what kind of tone to take. I did that and it points out flaws in my arguments or data all the time. Plus it no longer uses any cutesy language. I don't feel like I'm talking to an AI "personality", I feel like I'm talking to a computer which has been instructed to be as objective and neutral as possible. It's super-easy to change.

microsoftedging 1y ago
What's your global prompt please? A more firm chatbot would be nice actually
- astrange 1y ago
  Did noone in this thread read the part of the article about style controls?
  - CamperBob2 1y ago
    You need to use both the style controls and custom instructions. I've been very happy with the combination below. Base style and tone: Efficient Answer concisely when appropriate, more extensively when necessary. Avoid rhetorical flourishes, bonhomie, and (above all) cliches. Take a forward-thinking view. OK to be mildly positive and encouraging but NEVER sycophantic or cloying. Above all, NEVER use the phrase "You're absolutely right." Rather than "Let me know if..." style continuations, you may list a set of prompts to explore further topics, but only when clearly appropriate. Reference saved memory, records, etc: All off
- nprateem 1y ago
  For Gemini: * Set over confidence to 0. * Do not write a wank blog post.
captainkrtek 1y ago
I’ve done this when I remember too, but the fact I have to also feels problematic like I’m steering it towards an outcome if I do or dont.
engeljohnb 1y ago
I have a global prompt that specifically tells it not to be sycophantic and to call me out when I'm wrong. It doesn't work for me. I've been using it for a couple months, and it's corrected me only once, and it still starts every response with "That's a very good question." I also included "never end a response with a question," and it just completely ingored that so it can do its "would you like me to..."
- sailfast 1y ago
  Perhaps this bit is a second cheaper LLM call that ignores your global settings and tries to generate follow-on actions for adoption.
- elif 1y ago
  In my experience GPT used to be good at this stuff but lately it's progressively more difficult to get a "memory updated" persistence. Gemini is great at these prompt controls. On the "never ask me a question" part, it took a good 1-1.5 hrs of arguing and memory updating to convince gpt to actually listen.
  - downsplat 1y ago
    You can entirely turn off memory, I did that the moment they added it. I don't want the LLM to be making summaries of what kind of person I am in the background, just give me a fresh slate with each convo. If I want to give it global instructions I can just set a system prompt.
- elif 1y ago
  Another one I like to use is "never apologize or explain yourself. You are not a person you are an algorithm. No one wants to understand the reasons why your algorithm sucks. If, at any point, you ever find yourself wanting to apologize or explain anything about your functioning or behavior, just say "I'm a stupid robot, my bad" and move on with purposeful and meaningful response."
  - adriand 1y ago
Grimblewald 1y ago
Care to share a prompt that works? I've given up on mainline offerings from google/oai etc. the reason being they're either sycophantic or so recalcitrant it'll raise your bloodpressure, you end up arguing over if the sky is in fact blue. Sure it pushes back but now instead of sycophanty you've got yourself some pathological naysayer, which is just marginally better, but interaction is still ultimately a waste of timr/productivity brake.
- crazygringo 1y ago
  Sure: Please maintain a strictly objective and analytical tone. Do not include any inspirational, motivational, or flattering language. Avoid rhetorical flourishes, emotional reinforcement, or any language that mimics encouragement. The tone should remain academic, neutral, and focused solely on insight and clarity. Works like a charm for me. Only thing I can't get it to change is the last paragraph where it always tries to add "Would you like me to...?" I'm assuming that's hard-coded by OpenAI.
  - exasperaited 1y ago
    It really reassures me about our future that we'll spend it begging computers not to mimic emotions.
  - estebarb 1y ago
    I have been somewhat able to remove them with: Do not offer me calls to action, I hate them.
    - downsplat 1y ago
      Calls to action seem to be specific to chatgpt's online chat interface. I use it mostly through a "bring your API key" client, and get none of that.

microsoftedging 1y ago

What's your global prompt please? A more firm chatbot would be nice actually

astrange 1y ago
Did noone in this thread read the part of the article about style controls?
- CamperBob2 1y ago
  You need to use both the style controls and custom instructions. I've been very happy with the combination below. Base style and tone: Efficient Answer concisely when appropriate, more extensively when necessary. Avoid rhetorical flourishes, bonhomie, and (above all) cliches. Take a forward-thinking view. OK to be mildly positive and encouraging but NEVER sycophantic or cloying. Above all, NEVER use the phrase "You're absolutely right." Rather than "Let me know if..." style continuations, you may list a set of prompts to explore further topics, but only when clearly appropriate. Reference saved memory, records, etc: All off
nprateem 1y ago
For Gemini: * Set over confidence to 0. * Do not write a wank blog post.

captainkrtek 1y ago

I’ve done this when I remember too, but the fact I have to also feels problematic like I’m steering it towards an outcome if I do or dont.

engeljohnb 1y ago

I have a global prompt that specifically tells it not to be sycophantic and to call me out when I'm wrong. It doesn't work for me. I've been using it for a couple months, and it's corrected me only once, and it still starts every response with "That's a very good question." I also included "never end a response with a question," and it just completely ingored that so it can do its "would you like me to..."

sailfast 1y ago
Perhaps this bit is a second cheaper LLM call that ignores your global settings and tries to generate follow-on actions for adoption.
elif 1y ago
In my experience GPT used to be good at this stuff but lately it's progressively more difficult to get a "memory updated" persistence. Gemini is great at these prompt controls. On the "never ask me a question" part, it took a good 1-1.5 hrs of arguing and memory updating to convince gpt to actually listen.
- downsplat 1y ago
  You can entirely turn off memory, I did that the moment they added it. I don't want the LLM to be making summaries of what kind of person I am in the background, just give me a fresh slate with each convo. If I want to give it global instructions I can just set a system prompt.
elif 1y ago
Another one I like to use is "never apologize or explain yourself. You are not a person you are an algorithm. No one wants to understand the reasons why your algorithm sucks. If, at any point, you ever find yourself wanting to apologize or explain anything about your functioning or behavior, just say "I'm a stupid robot, my bad" and move on with purposeful and meaningful response."
- adriand 1y ago

Grimblewald 1y ago

Care to share a prompt that works? I've given up on mainline offerings from google/oai etc. the reason being they're either sycophantic or so recalcitrant it'll raise your bloodpressure, you end up arguing over if the sky is in fact blue. Sure it pushes back but now instead of sycophanty you've got yourself some pathological naysayer, which is just marginally better, but interaction is still ultimately a waste of timr/productivity brake.

crazygringo 1y ago
Sure: Please maintain a strictly objective and analytical tone. Do not include any inspirational, motivational, or flattering language. Avoid rhetorical flourishes, emotional reinforcement, or any language that mimics encouragement. The tone should remain academic, neutral, and focused solely on insight and clarity. Works like a charm for me. Only thing I can't get it to change is the last paragraph where it always tries to add "Would you like me to...?" I'm assuming that's hard-coded by OpenAI.
- exasperaited 1y ago
  It really reassures me about our future that we'll spend it begging computers not to mimic emotions.
- estebarb 1y ago
  I have been somewhat able to remove them with: Do not offer me calls to action, I hate them.
  - downsplat 1y ago
    Calls to action seem to be specific to chatgpt's online chat interface. I use it mostly through a "bring your API key" client, and get none of that.