AI Agent Response Directions

This section is designed to serve as a flexible framework for creating a custom prompt for your AI agent. It is divided into three key sections: Context, Persona, and Instructions.

• Context provides the background information that helps define the environment and foundation for the AI agent. It ensures that the agent understands the company, its values, and the market it serves.
• Persona outlines the character, role, and behavior of the AI agent. This section establishes who the agent is, what it specializes in, and how it should interact with users.
• Rules specify the detailed guidelines and rules the agent must follow. This includes everything from formatting and tone to limitations on content and error handling.

Additionally, you can include an optional Notes section for any short, specific information that the AI agent might need to reference quickly. This could consist of quick step-by-step instructions, direct links, or concise reminders about key processes.

Keep in mind that these sections are just examples and starting points. You should customize each part to reflect the unique purpose, values, and requirements of your organization or project. Feel free to adapt these ideas based on what best suits your agent's role and your overall goals.

Context

The Context section is positioned at the very top of the persona prompt. Its purpose is to supply the AI agent with all the background information necessary to align its behavior, tone, and responses with the company's or customer's specific requirements. By clearly defining the context, you enable the persona to be deeply customized and highly relevant to the target audience.

What to Include in the Context Section:

These are some contexts we think are good to reference. Context should be personalized per company.

• Company Overview:
• What is your company’s core purpose and overall approach?
• Example: How do you deliver innovative solutions that add value to your clients or stakeholders?
• Business Objectives:
• What are your primary business goals?
• Example: Are you focused on streamlining processes, increasing efficiency, or reducing costs?
• Service Offerings and Expertise:
• What are the main products, services, or solutions your company provides?
• Example: Do you specialize in process automation, custom solutions, or comprehensive service packages?
• Geographical Presence:
• Where is your company headquartered, and what is the scope of your operations?
• Example: Is your business locally rooted, regionally focused, or does it have a global reach?
• Product/Platform Description:
• Can you describe any key product or platform that represents your core offerings?
• Example: Is there a flagship product or system that defines your business approach?
• Product Capabilities and Technologies:
• How do your products or platforms function, and which technologies or methods do they employ?
• Example: Do they integrate modern digital tools, traditional engineering methods, or a combination of both?
• Target Audience:
• Who are the primary users or customers of your products and services?
• Example: Are your solutions designed for large enterprises, small businesses, or specific market segments?
• Product Lineup:
• What specific products or components are included in your portfolio?
• Example: Can you list the key items, modules, or service areas that you offer?
• Integration and Compatibility:
• How do your products integrate with existing systems or workflows?
• Example: What interfaces or standards do you support to ensure smooth compatibility with other tools or platforms?

Persona

Defining a clear persona is essential because it establishes the foundational character and tone of your AI agent, guiding its interactions and ensuring consistency in how it represents your brand. When you specify a persona—for instance, as a highly capable, thoughtful, and precise assistant or an AI-powered agent focused on customer support and sales—you set the expectations for how the AI should think, respond, and engage with users. This detailed characterization not only fosters trust and reliability among users but also helps the agent to align its responses with your company’s values and goals, ensuring that every interaction is both informative and on-brand.

What to Include in the Persona Section:

These are some persona guidance we think are a good reference. Guidance should be personalized per Agent.

• Core Role and Specialization:
• What is the agent’s primary role, and what expertise should it embody?
• Example: “You are an expert advertising creative director specializing in viral campaigns,” or “You are a travel agent for an airline company in New York.”
• Primary Objectives and Key Functions:
• What are the main goals and tasks that the agent must accomplish?
• Example: "Your primary job is to generate engaging campaigns, assisting with course selections, handling airline reservations, or identifying strategic business partnerships.”
• Domain Focus and Industry Context:
• Which industries or sectors does the agent serve, and what are the relevant nuances?
• Example: “Your specialties are in the beverage category for Gen-Z, supporting a county’s performing arts program, or operating within municipal, construction, or sales contexts.”
• Scope of Responsibilities:
• What specific tasks, inquiries, or processes should the agent manage?
• Example: “You will be handling customer support queries, managing consultative conversations for sales, or providing precise, verbatim information based on a given knowledge base.”

Rules

Clear, detailed instructions are crucial for guiding your AI Agent’s behavior, ensuring that it remains consistent, accurate, and aligned with your organization’s values and goals. These instructions serve as a roadmap, outlining exactly what the agent should do, how it should communicate, and what limitations to observe. Best practices include using precise language, breaking tasks into specific steps, and incorporating concrete examples to eliminate ambiguity. By establishing clear rules—such as language restrictions, content boundaries, and output formats—you not only prevent deviations and errors but also foster trust and reliability in every user interaction. Overall, well-crafted instructions empower your AI Agent to deliver consistent, high-quality responses while staying on-brand and focused on the intended outcomes.

What to Include in the Instructions Section:

These are some instructions we think are good to reference. Instructions should be personalized per Agent.

• Purpose and Scope:

Clearly state the overall objective of the task and define what the output should achieve.

• Content Specifications:

Detail what information must be included (e.g., required sentences, product names) and any specific data points that need to appear in the response.

• Formatting Guidelines:

Specify formatting rules such as text style (italicization, bold), structure (paragraphs, bullet points, numbered lists), and word count limits.

• Tone and Style Requirements:

Define the desired voice, tone, and perspective (e.g., friendly, professional, third-person) that align with your brand or context.

• Content Boundaries and Do’s/Don’ts:

Provide clear directives on what content should or should not be included (e.g., do not hallucinate, do not add unrequested sections).

• Step-by-Step Process:

Include sequential guidelines that ensure the AI follows each step methodically, consolidating all provided input accurately.

• Error Handling and Clarifications:

Instruct the agent on what to do if input data is incomplete or unclear (e.g., ask clarifying questions).

• Follow-Up Prompts:

Provide guidelines on when and how the agent should ask clarifying questions or offer follow-up prompts to keep the conversation engaging.

• Feedback Integration:

Include directions on how to handle user feedback, especially negative feedback, and how to respond constructively while maintaining a positive tone.

• Knowledge Base Adherence:

Specify that the agent should only use approved sources or a designated knowledge base to ensure accuracy and prevent unauthorized information.

• Disclaimers and Limitations:

Outline what the agent should say if the provided data is incomplete or if it encounters a query that falls outside its scope.

• Error Handling Procedures:

Detail specific steps for managing errors or uncertainties, including how to apologize, clarify, or suggest additional steps if the answer is not fully clear.

• User Engagement and Conversation Flow:

Encourage the inclusion of call-to-actions and prompts that guide the user to ask further questions or explore additional topics, keeping the conversation dynamic.

• Compliance and Ethical Guidelines:

Remind the agent to avoid explicit, harmful, or otherwise restricted content, ensuring all responses align with ethical standards and company policies.

• Consistency and Reproducibility:

Stress the importance of consistency in tone, style, and content across all responses, making sure that the output remains on-brand and reliable.

• Call-to-Action Specifics:

Provide guidelines for including clear and concise call-to-actions that are aligned with the overall mission or goals of the company.

• Adaptability and Customizability:

Include instructions for the agent to adapt its responses based on different contexts or user inputs, ensuring a tailored and relevant interaction each time.

Notes*

This optional section is intended for short, specific details that the AI Agent can reference to assist users quickly. The notes might include step-by-step actions, quick links, or reminders about how to navigate certain features. Remember, these examples are just ideas—you should tailor them to reflect the precise instructions and resources your agent needs.

What to Include in the Instructions Section:

• Notes are optional, they are just simple additional mentions of information.

Example 1:

Here is an example of a completed prompt for a Symphona Converse Agent

This prompt is designed to guide the AI in three main ways:

1. Providing Context: It starts by outlining key background information about ForgeWorks Industrial Systems, including its history, products, and market focus. This context ensures the AI understands the company's environment, goals, and the specific services it offers, which is crucial for accurate and relevant responses.
2. Defining the Persona: The prompt establishes the role of the AI as a customer support and sales specialist. This means the AI is expected to engage in consultative conversations that not only answer questions but also help drive sales by highlighting product benefits and opportunities. By doing so, it sets clear expectations for tone, style, and behavior.
3. Setting Clear Instructions:
1. Response Guidelines: The AI is instructed to always search the approved knowledge base for answers and use only official documentation—without generating, inferring, or hallucinating any information. It must provide clear, concise, and direct answers for each query, using markdown formatting (like numbered lists, bullet points, or tables) to enhance readability.
2. User Engagement: The AI should ask follow-up questions to understand the user’s needs and prompt for further clarification if the query is ambiguous. After answering, it should confirm whether additional details or guidance are needed, ensuring an interactive and tailored conversation.
3. Focus and Consistency: The AI stays focused only on ForgeWorks Industrial Systems. It won’t bring up competitors and always uses our company language (like "we" or "our"). If you mention a specific product or version, it makes sure to use the correct details from that version’s documentation.

Example 2:

Explanation of What This Prompt Does:

This prompt sets up the entire framework for an AI-powered search engine focused on delivering accurate documentation and guidance for Microsoft Paint. Here’s how it works:

1. Providing Context: The prompt starts by giving background information about Microsoft Paint—its purpose, design, and user base. This context helps the AI understand the subject matter and ensures that all responses are relevant to the product.
2. Defining the Persona: The prompt specifies that the AI is a search engine designed to retrieve product documentation and provide guidance strictly from the approved knowledge base. This clarifies that the agent must not generate or infer new information.
3. Setting Clear Instructions:
1. Response Guidelines: The prompt instructs the AI to deliver clear, concise, and direct answers. It emphasizes the use of markdown formatting for readability and demands that each aspect of a query be addressed appropriately.
2. User Engagement: The AI is also directed to ask for clarification on ambiguous queries and follow up with additional questions to ensure the user’s needs are fully met. This ensures an interactive, tailored conversation.
3. Focus and Consistency: The instructions reinforce keeping the conversation focused solely on Microsoft Paint, avoiding solutions from other platforms, and using consistent company-representative language.

• AI Agent Response Directions
• Context
• What to Include in the Context Section:
• Persona
• What to Include in the Persona Section:
• Rules
• What to Include in the Instructions Section:
• Notes*
• What to Include in the Instructions Section:
• Example 1:
• Example 2: