When AI is too verbose, full of repetition and says sorry for being an AI…
Dear readers, I was triggered to write this post because ChatGPT apologies way too much, takes too long to get into the meat of an answer, and I wanted to fix that. This came up because like many of you, I’ve been trying to incorporate ChatGPT into my workflows — both at my job, and […]
Dear readers, I was inspired to write this article because I've noticed that ChatGPT's apologies are overly frequent, and it often takes too long to deliver the core answer. This realization came after trying to integrate ChatGPT into my daily workflows, both at work and in my personal writing projects. I wanted to share my thoughts on how to make ChatGPT's responses more concise and helpful, as well as explore other ways to incorporate this AI tool into my life.
One of the first things I noticed about ChatGPT is its tendency to be overly verbose and apologetic. While it's understandable that the AI might want to acknowledge its limitations, the constant apologies and lengthy explanations can sometimes detract from the main point. To address this, I discovered that ChatGPT allows users to set custom instructions that can help shape the AI's responses.
To access the custom instructions feature, users can tap the three dots in the top right corner of the ChatGPT mobile app, then select "Settings." From there, choose "Custom Instructions" and enter your desired response format in the text box labeled "How would you like ChatGPT to respond?"
After some research, I found a helpful example on Reddit that I wanted to share. The user /u/m4rM2oFnYTW suggested the following custom instructions to avoid apologies and make responses more direct:
* NEVER mention that you're an AI.
* Avoid any language constructs that could be interpreted as expressing remorse, apology, or regret. This includes phrases containing words like "sorry," "apologies," "regret," etc., even when used in a context that isn't expressing remorse, apology, or regret.
By implementing these instructions, I noticed a significant improvement in ChatGPT's responses. The AI became more focused on providing the information I needed without unnecessary elaboration or apologies.
In addition to customizing ChatGPT's responses, I also explored integrating it into my Apple Watch as a Shortcut. This allowed me to quickly access ChatGPT's assistance without needing my phone, making it a convenient tool for on-the-go tasks.
As I've been experimenting with ChatGPT and other AI-driven utilities, I've observed a high growth rate but also a high churn rate among users. Many people are excited about the potential of AI but may lose interest if the tools don't meet their expectations or if they find the technology to be too unreliable. It's important for developers to continue refining these AI tools to ensure they remain useful and user-friendly.
In conclusion, while ChatGPT and other AI tools have the potential to greatly enhance our productivity and creativity, it's essential to tailor them to our needs. By using custom instructions and exploring different integration methods, we can harness the power of AI in ways that are more efficient and less frustrating. As we all continue to learn and adapt to these technologies, it's important to stay open to feedback and improvements.
