Prompt templates

The Playground ships with a few starter system prompts so you don’t write one from scratch. Pick a template, send a few messages, then either keep it or save back to production via Guidelines.

In this guide:

  • The bundled templates
  • When to pick each
  • Customize a template
  • Save back to production

The bundled templates

TemplateBest for
AI AgentGeneric helpful assistant. The default for new chatbots.
Customer SupportTone is patient and de-escalating. Refuses out-of-scope questions, offers to escalate.
Coding AssistantAsks clarifying questions about language and runtime; replies with code blocks; explains tradeoffs.
Creative WriterHigher temperature recommended. Generates copy, headlines, marketing snippets.
CustomEmpty starting point — paste your own system prompt.

Step 1: Pick a template

In the Playground settings panel, find System prompt template and pick one.

Prompt template picker Screenshot: The system-prompt template picker.

The chat history doesn’t reset — your next message uses the new template. To start fresh, clear history first.

Step 2: Customize

Templates are starting points. Edit the prompt inline:

  • Add product-specific context: company name, industry, user role.
  • Add hard rules: never share account info without verification, never discuss competitors, escalate on the keyword “human.”
  • Adjust tone: formal vs. casual.

See Guidelines for the full structure of a good system prompt.

Step 3: Save back to production

When the customized template is producing the answers you want, click Save as defaults. The chatbot’s production Guidelines are updated.

The Playground keeps a local copy you can keep iterating on without re-saving every time.

Custom from scratch

Pick the Custom template, then write your own from scratch using the four-part structure:

[ROLE]   — Who is the bot?
[TONE]   — How does it talk?
[SCOPE]  — What can / can't it answer?
[RULES]  — Hard prohibitions and required behaviors.

For inspiration, see the worked examples in Guidelines.

What’s next