Custom instructions are account-level settings that guide how Active Intelligence works with you. They control how Active Intelligence interacts with you and what recommendations and content it creates for your business.
You set up these instructions once. This teaches Active Intelligence about your business, so every conversation starts with context. The instructions cover how you work, who you serve, and what matters to your institution.
Custom instructions work alongside user memory and your Brand Kit. Custom instructions are account-wide settings that an admin configures for all users. User memory is personal to you and builds over time based on what you say in your conversations.
Benefits of this feature include:
-
Save time on every conversation
Set your working preferences, target audience, and content guidelines instead of re-explaining in every Active Intelligence conversation. -
Get more personalized content
Active Intelligence automatically applies your instructions to every recommendation and draft, creating content that better matches your business needs -
Maintain consistency
All users work with the same business context, so Active Intelligence delivers aligned content no matter who's using it
Take note
- Only admin users can view and edit custom instructions
- If you give Active Intelligence a specific request that conflicts with your instructions, your specific request takes priority
- Custom instructions are limited to 4,000 characters
How to access custom instructions
There are two ways to access the customization page:
From the Active Intelligence homepage
- Click the logo on the left.
- Click the “Customize your AI” button at the top right.
- Click “Instructions.”
From the Active Intelligence sidebar
- Click the "Your AI" icon while in any feature (i.e., Contacts, Automations, etc.) page to open the sidebar.
- Click the "Customize your AI" icon in the sidebar, located beneath your chat history.
- Click “Instructions.”
How to set up custom instructions
- Navigate to the Instructions page using one of the methods above.
- In the text editor, add your custom instructions.
- Your instructions are automatically saved as you type.
You can update your instructions at any time to refine how Active Intelligence works for your business.
What to include in your instructions
Your instructions teach Active Intelligence how to work with your team and understand your business. Here are four key areas to help you get started:
Working Preferences
How you want to collaborate with Active Intelligence:
- Do you prefer an explanation with Active Intelligence suggestions?
- Do you like to ideate with Active Intelligence or prefer a direct response?
- How many options and what level of detail do you want in responses?
Target Audience
Who you serve and what matters to them:
- What is the demographics of your ideal student?
- What are some of the pain points you help solve?
Provide industry context and mention your market positioning.
Content Guidelines
Rules for structure, tone, and messaging:
- How do you like the brand to communicate and what tone to use?
- Are there any specific messages to emphasize or topics to avoid?
Are there any industry-specific terminology or language Active Intelligence should be wary of?
Additional Context
What makes your institution unique:
- Academic, campus life, support and differentiators
- Competitive landscape and positioning
- Strategic priorities
How user memory, custom instructions, and Brand Kit work together
Active Intelligence uses three layers of personalization. Each one serves a different purpose:
| Layer | Set by | Scope | Purpose |
| Brand Kit | Admin | Account-wide | Defines your company name, logo, colors, and brand voice. |
| Custom instructions | Admin | Account-wide | Guides how Active Intelligence interacts with your team and creates content for your business. |
| User memory | Any user | Per user | Stores individual preferences stated during conversations. |
All three layers work together. Brand Kit and custom instructions provide the foundation. User memory adds personal preferences on top.
If your memory conflicts with a custom instruction, your memory takes priority in your sessions.