Basics
System prompt
Hidden setup instructions that shape how an AI behaves in a chat.
A system prompt is a set of behind-the-scenes instructions that a company gives an AI before you ever start typing. It sets the tone, the rules, and the personality, telling the model things like be helpful, stay polite, and avoid certain topics. You usually never see it, but it quietly steers every reply you get.
For example
A customer service bot might have a system prompt telling it to always be cheerful and never discuss competitors.
Related
Large language modelA program that learned to use language by reading enormous amounts of text.TokenThe small chunk of text an AI reads and writes, often part of a word.Context windowHow much text an AI can keep in mind at one time.ParametersThe internal dials a model adjusts while learning, numbering in the billions.