OpenAI has introduced an enhanced customization feature for ChatGPT, enabling users to personalize their interactions by tailoring the chatbot’s responses to match specific traits and preferences.
The update brings a revamped user interface to ChatGPT.com and the Windows desktop app, with broader expansion to mobile and macOS platforms expected soon. However, the feature’s availability in the European Union and neighboring countries is delayed due to regulatory compliance requirements.
The update builds upon OpenAI’s July 2023 introduction of custom instructions, which first allowed users to define how ChatGPT would respond by filling out customizable fields.
While the core mechanism of these instructions—prompt engineering—remains the same, the new interface simplifies the process, making it accessible to a wider audience.
We've updated custom instructions to make it easier to customize how ChatGPT responds to you.
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 17, 2025
With the new UI, you can tell ChatGPT the traits you want it to have, how you want it to talk to you, and any rules you want it to follow. pic.twitter.com/BaXaqAw5cE
A Refined Customization Experience
The redesigned interface provides users with the ability to define key details, such as their name or nickname, professional background, and desired tone of interaction. Suggested personality options, including descriptors like “Chatty,” “Encouraging,” or “Gen Z,” are intended to align ChatGPT’s responses more closely with user expectations.
When users access the customization menu, they are prompted with the phrase, “Introduce yourself to get better, more personalized responses,” which highlights the feature’s goal of enhancing interaction quality.
This system leverages prompt engineering, a technical approach where predefined instructions embedded in prompts guide the AI’s behavior and tone. The update ensures that even users without technical expertise can easily adjust the chatbot’s personality and interaction style.
OpenAI has emphasized that moderation protocols remain unchanged, with automated reviews ensuring that user-defined instructions comply with platform guidelines.
Challenges and Regional Delays
Although the rollout of the new customization features has been welcomed by many users, its deployment has not been without challenges. Early reports from users who accessed the updated interface noted its temporary availability in some regions before OpenAI pulled the feature back, signaling a staggered release approach.
The new ChatGPT custom instructions UX seems to be rolling out already https://t.co/faDaQe5OGY
— Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) January 9, 2025
OpenAI later confirmed that this strategy was intentional, prioritizing the stability of the feature’s implementation.
In regions such as the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, the rollout is further delayed due to local regulatory requirements. These regions often impose stricter data privacy and AI governance laws, which necessitate additional compliance measures.
OpenAI has stated that it is actively addressing these challenges but has not provided a specific timeline for full availability in these areas.
Prompt engineering plays a central role in enabling these new features. This method involves embedding specific instructions within user prompts to influence the AI’s output, effectively tailoring its responses to meet particular expectations.
By streamlining the interface for this functionality, OpenAI makes this technical concept more accessible to everyday users.
Broader Context and Implications
The expanded customization features align with OpenAI’s broader strategy to enhance ChatGPT’s versatility and appeal. In December 2024, OpenAI reported that over 300 million people interact with ChatGPT on a weekly basis, highlighting the platform’s rapid growth and importance in the AI ecosystem.
Recent feature additions, such as live web search and a “Canvas” mode for collaborative writing and coding, showsOpenAI’s commitment to making ChatGPT a multi-functional tool for both casual and professional users.
By offering intuitive customization features, OpenAI aims to differentiate ChatGPT as an adaptable and user-focused solution in an increasingly crowded market.