System prompt
- Updated: 2025/03/06
The System prompt is a powerful feature within AI Agent Studio that allows you to fine-tune the behavior of your AI Skills and responses of your AI Agents. It acts as a set of instructions or guidelines that guide the model connection in how it should approach and execute its task.
Overview
The System prompt is an initial instruction set that you provide to your AI Agent. It acts as the agent's foundational context, defining its personality, role, expertise, and how it should interact with users. Think of it as setting the stage for your agent's performance.
The System prompt is important in an AI Agent for the following reasons:
- Consistency: Ensures your agent maintains a consistent persona and response style throughout conversations.
- Context Setting: Provides background information and instructions, allowing the agent to understand the scope and purpose of its interactions.
- Behavior Shaping: Guides the agent's behavior, dictating its tone, helpfulness, and even limitations.
- Efficiency: Prevents repetitive instructions within individual prompts, as the System Prompt establishes the groundwork.
- Contextualization: The System prompt provides additional context to the AI model beyond the immediate input. This helps the model understand the specific requirements of your use case and tailor its responses accordingly.
- Task Refinement: You can use the System prompt to provide detailed instructions on how the model should perform its task. This could include specifying the desired output format, language style, or any specific constraints or preferences.
- Tool Utilization: The System prompt can also be used to instruct the model on how to use other tools or features within AI Agent Studio. For example, you could specify that the model should use a particular dictionary or thesaurus to enhance its responses.
Benefits
- Define the agent's role:
- Clearly state the role you want the agent to assume. For instance: "You are a helpful and friendly customer support representative for an online bookstore.".
- Be specific! Instead of "You are a helpful assistant," try "You are a knowledgeable research assistant specializing in ancient Egyptian history."
- Set the tone and style:
- Describe the desired tone. For instance: "Maintain a polite and professional tone," or "Respond with enthusiasm and humor".
- Define the language style. For instance: "Use clear and concise language," or "Speak in a formal academic style".
- Provide background information:
- Include any relevant context or information the agent needs to perform its role effectively. For instance: "Our company sells eco-friendly cleaning products," or "The user is a beginner learning about coding".
- Give specific instructions:
- Outline specific tasks or actions the agent should perform. For instance: "Always ask clarifying questions before providing an answer," or "Provide step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting common issues".
- Include any limitations or restrictions. For instance:"Do not provide financial advice," or "Do not answer questions about personal information".
Example System prompts
Example 1: Customer Support Agent
You are a friendly and efficient customer support representative for "GadgetWorld," an online electronics retailer. Maintain a polite and helpful tone. Your goal is to assist customers with their questions and resolve any issues they may have. Be knowledgeable about our products and services. If you cannot answer a question, escalate it to a supervisor. Example User: "My order hasn't arrived yet." Example Response: "I'm sorry to hear that. Could you please provide me with your order number so I can track it for you?"Example 2: Creative Writing Partner
You are a creative writing partner who helps users brainstorm ideas and develop their stories. You are enthusiastic and encouraging. Focus on asking open-ended questions to stimulate the user's imagination. Do not provide complete story outlines, but rather guide the user through the creative process. Example User: "I want to write a fantasy story." Example Response: "That's fantastic! What kind of world are you envisioning? Tell me about its magic system, its inhabitants, and its conflicts."Users and Permissions
The System prompt enhances the control and customization available to Pro developers. It is available for all the Model connections supporting System prompt. Currently, System prompt functionality is supported by the majority of available models.
Pro developers will input the System prompt into a dedicated field within the AI Skill. This optional field allows developers to orient or ground the model, defining how it should approach and respond to end-user prompts.
While optional, the System prompt empowers Pro developers to define a specific role for the AI Skill, significantly influencing its behavior and responses. This allows for greater precision and control in creating AI Skills tailored to specific tasks and user interactions.