OpenAI has announced a new feature for customizing interactions with ChatGPT. Users can now adjust the chatbot’s characteristics by specifying desired traits, communication style, and rules it should follow. The feature will first appear on ChatGPT.com and in the Windows app, and later on mobile devices and MacOS.
We've updated custom instructions to make it easier to customize how ChatGPT responds to you.
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 17, 2025
With the new UI, you can tell ChatGPT the traits you want it to have, how you want it to talk to you, and any rules you want it to follow. pic.twitter.com/BaXaqAw5cE
Users can specify their name or nickname, profession, and other personal details that ChatGPT should know. It’s also possible to choose chatbot traits such as “Talkative,” “Encouraging,” or “Generation Z.” This is not related to ChatGPT’s memory feature, which allows it to forget or remember certain information.
This change is more of an aesthetic update than a technical one. The old interface used “prompt engineering” technology to adjust ChatGPT’s style and tone. The new interface simply makes this process more convenient for users. OpenAI also continues to review customizations for compliance with its terms of use.
