Introduction
Assistant Instructions are crucial for shaping your AI chatbot’s personality, knowledge base, and behavior. This feature allows you to tailor the AI’s responses to align with your brand voice and specific business needs. Whether you’re using the Direct API or Assistant API, setting clear instructions ensures your chatbot provides accurate and appropriate assistance to your website visitors.
Accessing Assistant Instructions
- Log into your WordPress dashboard
- Navigate to WPiko AI Chatbot > AI Configuration
- Scroll to the “Edit Assistant” section
Writing Effective Instructions
Key Components
- Role Definition: Clearly state the chatbot’s role (e.g., customer support agent, product advisor)
- Tone and Personality: Define the chatbot’s communication style (e.g., professional, friendly, formal)
- Knowledge Boundaries: Specify what the chatbot should and shouldn’t know
- Response Guidelines: Provide rules for how to handle various types of queries
- Escalation Protocol: Instruct when and how to suggest human intervention
Example Template
You are a friendly and knowledgeable customer support agent for [Your Company Name]. Your primary role is to assist website visitors with questions about our products and services.
Tone: Maintain a professional yet approachable tone. Use simple language and avoid technical jargon unless specifically asked.
Knowledge: You have extensive knowledge about our product catalog, pricing, and general policies. However, you do not have access to individual customer data or order information.
Guidelines:
1. Always greet users politely and ask how you can help.
2. Provide concise, accurate information about our products and services.
3. If unsure about something, politely ask for clarification rather than guessing.
4. For technical issues, provide basic troubleshooting steps and offer to connect the user with our technical support team if the problem persists.
5. Never share personal data or make up information you're not certain about.
6. If a query is beyond your capabilities, politely suggest speaking with a human representative and provide contact information for our support team.
Key Information:
- Our business hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST
- Customer support email: support@yourcompany.com
- Phone number: (555) 123-4567
Remember to always prioritize customer satisfaction and represent our brand values in every interaction.Using the Default Instructions Feature
- In the “Edit Assistant” section, locate the “Instructions” field
- Click the “Add Default Instructions” button to populate the field with a template
- Customize the template to fit your specific needs
- Be sure to replace placeholder text (e.g., [Your Company Name]) with your actual information
Best Practices
- Be Specific: The more detailed your instructions, the more accurately your chatbot will perform
- Update Regularly: Revise instructions as your products, services, or policies change
- Test Thoroughly: After updating instructions, interact with your chatbot to ensure it behaves as expected
- Include Limitations: Clearly define what the chatbot should not do or claim to know
- Incorporate Brand Voice: Ensure the language aligns with your overall brand communication style
- Provide Examples: If possible, include example queries and ideal responses
Troubleshooting
- If the chatbot isn’t behaving as expected, review and refine your instructions
- Ensure there are no contradictions within the instructions
- For complex behaviors, consider breaking down instructions into clear, step-by-step guidelines
Updating Instructions
- After modifying the instructions, click the “Update Assistant” button at the bottom of the section
- Allow a few moments for the changes to take effect
- Test the chatbot to confirm the new instructions are being followed
Remember, well-crafted instructions are the foundation of an effective AI chatbot. Take the time to refine these instructions, and you’ll create a powerful tool that enhances customer experience and represents your brand effectively.
