Lesson 3 of 5 · about 5 min
Custom instructions, memory and custom GPTs
When you finish, you can set standing preferences, understand memory, and decide when a custom GPT is worth using.
Stuck? Ask the AI tutorCustom instructions
Many versions let you write standing instructions that apply to every chat. You might say who you are, how you like answers, and what to avoid. For example: "I am a high-school teacher in Ghana. Use simple English. Give short answers first, details after if I ask."
Good instructions are short and clear. Avoid contradictions. Read them again every so often and delete what no longer fits. Look in your settings for how your version names and shows this feature.
Memory
Some versions also have a memory feature that can carry details from earlier chats into later ones. It may save things like your job, your preferences or ongoing projects. This can save time. It also means the tool may know more about you than you remember sharing.
Look at your settings. You can usually view what is remembered, delete items, or turn memory off. You can also ask in a chat, "What do you remember about me?" and "Forget that." Do not rely on memory for sensitive facts. Treat it as a convenience, not a vault.
Custom GPTs
A custom GPT is a version of ChatGPT set up for a specific job, with its own instructions and sometimes its own files. Some are made by OpenAI, some by other people. Availability depends on plan and region. You might find one for study help, travel planning or writing.
Be careful with ones made by strangers. Check who made it and what it says about data. Do not give a stranger's tool private files or personal details. If you have a repeated job, you may be able to make your own with clear instructions, which is a good way to keep a consistent process.
Worked example: a study buddy
A nursing student in the Philippines sets instructions: "Quiz me one question at a time on the topic I name. Wait for my answer. Say if I am right and explain in two sentences. Do not give clinical advice for real patients." Each study session then starts well.
She also checks answers against her course materials, because the tool can be wrong. The setup saves time, and her textbook stays the authority. That pairing, saved routine plus human check, is the pattern to copy.
Practice now
- Write custom instructions of five lines or fewer for how you want answers: tone, length and what to avoid. Add them if your version allows, then test.
- Look at your memory or personalization settings. Decide what you want saved and delete anything you do not.
Use any AI assistant you have. Do not paste private, client or patient information into it.
Check yourself
1. What is a good trait of custom instructions?
2. What can you usually do with memory?
3. Before using a custom GPT made by someone you do not know, you should
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AI-drafted. Checked by an automated validator and a separate AI reviewer; a person has not read every lesson. Translations and tutor answers are AI-made. Found a mistake? Tell us. AI can be wrong. General information only, not professional advice. Not affiliated with any AI company named. Current University is not accredited.