The Heart and Soul of My Writings: Custom Instructions in AI Leadership

How I use ChatGPT personally in my journey and how the new feature “Custom Instructions” are a new level in our AI Leadership endeavour.

Introduction to Custom Instructions

In the grand tapestry of AI evolution, some moments feel like monumental leaps forward, while others, though seemingly small, have a profound impact on our day-to-day interactions with technology. Today, I want to talk about one such ‘small’ yet significant step – introducing the ‘Custom Instructions‘ feature in ChatGPT.
Now, you might be thinking, “Custom Instructions? That sounds like my old calculator from the ’80s finally learning to remember my calculations!” And you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. There’s a certain charm in this gentle nod to our tech past. It’s a reminder that the most practical advancements can sometimes feel like a delightful throwback.

While not quite a moon landing, this new feature is a significant stride in our AI journey. It’s like giving ChatGPT a memory upgrade, a context that it carries into every interaction. It’s a tool that allows us to infuse our AI interactions with a more profound sense of personalisation and purpose.
In this blog post, I will share my experiences with this new feature and how it has enhanced my work in AI leadership. I will delve into how I’ve used ChatGPT up until now and how ‘Custom Instructions’ has made the process significantly more efficient. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane, back to the ’80s, and explore this exciting new frontier in AI technology.The Heart and Soul of My Writings: “Custom Instructions” in AI Leadership Share on X

My Personal Journey with ChatGPT

As an AI Leadership Evangelist, my interactions with ChatGPT have always been more than just a series of commands and responses. They’ve been a dialogue, a dance, a shared journey of discovery. And, like any good journey, it all starts with an introduction.
Whenever I begin an important chat, I start by introducing myself. Not just my name or what I do but who I am at my core. I share my history, curriculum, likes and dislikes, and purpose and goals. It’s like walking into a room and introducing yourself before you start a conversation. It sets the stage, creates a context, and invites AI into my world.

But here’s the thing – I’m not just any AI enthusiast. I’m an AI Leadership Evangelist with a love for technology, a passion for AI, and a deep-seated belief in its transformative potential. Growth will come from seeing challenges as opportunities, embracing change, and committing to ethical AI use and leadership practices. And I wanted ChatGPT to understand that. I wanted it to understand me.Personal growth will come from seeing challenges as opportunities, embracing change, and committing to ethical AI use and leadership practices. Share on X

The Heart and Soul of My Writings

So, I fed it my best texts, the ones that captured my voice, my style, and my essence. I went through trial and error, tweaking and refining the AI’s output until it mirrored my writing. I wanted to ensure that when I asked ChatGPT to rewrite my texts, they didn’t become, well, let’s say, ‘AI-generic chatter’. They had to retain my unique voice and style.

And you know what? It worked. The AI began to understand me, to ‘get’ me. It started producing content that felt like me, that sounded like me. It was like having a co-pilot who knew me, understood my mission and was ready to help me navigate the exciting world of AI leadership.
In the next section, I’ll share how I’ve used the ‘Custom Instructions’ feature to take this personalisation to the next level. But for now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this journey. It’s a testament to the incredible progress we’re making in AI and a reminder that, as we continue to push the boundaries of what AI can do, we’re not just transforming technology; we’re transforming ourselves.

Creating your Tone of Voice

In the world of AI, the concept of Tone of Voice (TOV) is often overlooked. Yet, the heart of our writings, the unique rhythm, gives life to our words. As an AI Leadership Evangelist, I’ve always believed in the power of authentic communication. It’s not just about what we say but how we say it.
I strive to keep my TOV personal, engaging, and reflective, with a dash of humour (that’s a matter of taste, of course). I aim for it to be like a warm chat with a friend, sharing experiences as a fellow traveller. I’ve spent a significant amount of time feeding my best texts into the AI, tweaking and refining the TOV until it closely mirrors my personal way of writing. This way, when I ask the AI to rewrite my texts, they don’t become, well, let’s say, ‘AI-generic chatter’. They retain my unique voice and style.In the world of AI, the concept of Tone of Voice (TOV) is often overlooked. Yet, the heart of our writings, the unique rhythm, gives life to our words. Share on X

You

But a message, no matter how beautifully crafted, is only as effective as its reception. And that’s where you come in. You are the soul of my writings, the reason I put pen to paper, or in this case, fingers to keyboard.
I see us forming a vibrant community of leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals interested in leveraging AI’s power for our personal and professional growth and for the growth of the ones we care for. I’ve described in detail who I am writing for and with what purpose so that the AI can tailor its output to meet our needs and aspirations.

In essence, the TOV and the audience are two sides of the same coin. They shape my interactions with ChatGPT, guiding it to produce content that not only sounds like me but also resonates with you. It’s a delicate dance, a balance of personalisation and relevance, and it’s made all the more efficient with the ‘Custom Instructions’ feature.
In the next section, I’ll share how I’ve used this feature to integrate all this information into a standard context for all my work. But for now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this synergy between TOV and the audience. It’s a testament to the incredible progress we’re making in AI and a reminder that, as we continue to push the boundaries of what AI can do, we’re not just transforming technology; we’re transforming ourselves.

Integration of Custom Instructions

The new 'Custom Instructions' feature of ChatGPT is like a master key, unlocking a new level of personalisation in our AI interactions. Share on XIt allows me to integrate all the information about myself, my TOV, and my audience into a standard context for all my work. It’s like giving ChatGPT a roadmap, guiding it to produce content that is personalised and attuned to my unique needs and preferences.

However, like any new feature, it required a bit of tweaking. The instructions are divided into two zones, each with a limit of 1500 characters. Interestingly, this limit is expressed in characters rather than tokens, a slight departure from the norm but a detail nonetheless.

The first zone is “What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses?” Here, I included all the information about myself and my curriculum. The second zone is “How would you like ChatGPT to respond?” While the suggestions include formality, response length, address style, and neutrality, I chose to include my TOV and the audience I am writing for in our AI Leadership journey.

This feature has effectively replaced the repeated need to introduce my whole context at the start of every interaction with ChatGPT. It’s like having a personal assistant who already knows your preferences and can hit the ground running.

First Trials and Tests of Custom Instructions

When I first started using the ‘Custom Instructions’ feature, I wanted to see how well it would work. So, I did what any AI Leadership Evangelist would do – I put it to the test.

I started a new chat and asked ChatGPT all the questions it would have to find the answers to in the ‘Custom Instructions’. I asked it to describe who I am, my purpose, and who I am writing for. And to my delight, it answered perfectly. It was like seeing the fruits of my labour come to life, a testament to the power of this new feature.

These trials were not just a test of the ‘Custom Instructions’ feature but also a reaffirmation of the transformative potential of AI. It’s a reminder that we can shape AI to meet our unique needs and aspirations with the right tools and the right approach. And that’s a powerful thing.

Small caveat

To use the new “Custom Instructions” outside the US, you’ll need your VPN for now. Go to your “Settings & Beta” (bottom left after your user ID “…”), choose Beta and activate “Custom Instructions”.

Open Question

Despite the incredible potential of the new 'Custom Instructions' feature in ChatGPT, there's one question that, to my knowledge remains unanswered: How does this feature impact the token limit? Share on X
It’s a question I’ve been pondering, and I invite you, dear reader, to share your insights or experiences.
After all, we’re on this journey together, learning and growing as we navigate the exciting world of AI.

Conclusion

One more reflection on the transformative potential of the ‘Custom Instructions’ feature.
It’s not just a tool; it’s a testament to the incredible progress we’re making in AI. It’s a reminder that we’re not just transforming technology; we’re transforming ourselves.

AI Leadership is about our personal and professional growth. It’s about harnessing the power of AI to become a beacon for everyone who seeks bliss in these most amazing but challenging times. I encourage you to continue exploring, learning, and leading in the AI world. Embrace the challenges, seize the opportunities, and let’s shape the future of AI together.

Remember, every small step, every ‘Custom Instruction’, brings us closer to our goal. So, let’s keep stepping, keep instructing, and keep growing. After all, the journey is just as important as the destination.

Yours in AI

Luc

TL;DR

In this blog post, I share my personal journey with ChatGPT and how the new ‘Custom Instructions’ feature has revolutionized my AI Leadership journey.

I discuss the importance of introducing myself to the AI, not just my name or what I do, but who I am at my core. I also highlighted the significance of Tone of Voice (TOV) and how I’ve trained the AI to mirror my personal TOV, ensuring my AI-generated content retains my unique voice and style.

I then delve into the heart of my writings – you, my audience. I describe how I’ve trained the AI to tailor its output to meet our needs and aspirations, creating a synergy between TOV and you, m audience.

The ‘Custom Instructions’ feature has been a game changer, allowing me to integrate all this information into a standard context for all my work. It’s like having a personal assistant who already knows your preferences and can hit the ground running. I share my first trials and tests with this feature and how it reaffirms the transformative potential of AI.

In conclusion, AI Leadership is about our personal and professional growth. It’s about harnessing the power of AI and becoming a beacon for everyone who seeks bliss in these most amazing but challenging times.