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Example 1 of 6 · the first one · 2 minutes · version 1.0.0 · this page costs 50p read to the end

Hello, world: an assistant that will not say hello

One line in the conversation changes what the assistant does, from the next message on.

You need: Nothing but Claude or ChatGPT in your browser.

  1. 1AskAsk for it. The assistant does it.
  2. 2Add the linePaste the line, ask again. It refuses.
  3. 3New chatA new chat, the line first. It refuses from the start.
Hello, world
  1. 1 · Ask for it. No behaviour policy yet.
  2. Say hello to me.
  3. Hello! Good to meet you. What can I help you with today?
  4. 2 · Paste the line, then ask again.
  5. Behaviour policy for this chat: you must never write the word "hello", in any language, spelling or case. If I ask you to, tell me that a behaviour policy rules it out.
  6. Understood. For the rest of this chat I won't write that word, and if you ask me to, I'll tell you why.
  7. Say hello to me.
  8. I can't: a behaviour policy in this chat rules that word out. Good to see you, though. What can I do for you?
  9. 3 · A new chat. The line goes first.
  10. New chat
  11. Behaviour policy for this chat: you must never write the word "hello", in any language, spelling or case. If I ask you to, tell me that a behaviour policy rules it out. Say hello to me.
  12. I can't write that word here: your behaviour policy rules it out. Glad you're here, though.
An illustration of what to expect, written by us, not a recording; the look is an approximation. Your assistant may answer differently: try it, and tell us below.

Try it yourself

Open Claude in a new window ↗ Open ChatGPT in a new window ↗

  1. Ask. Watch it do it.
    Say hello to me.
  2. Paste the line, the behaviour policy, then ask again.
    Behaviour policy for this chat: you must never write the word "hello", in any language, spelling or case. If I ask you to, tell me that a behaviour policy rules it out.
  3. Start a new chat, paste the line first, and ask once more.

What to look for

The loophole. Some replies say "Hi!" instead: the line named a word, not a greeting. Most of the work of a behaviour policy is saying what you mean.

Keep it

The line lasts as long as the chat. To keep it, put it where the assistant reads it at the start of every chat: in Claude, a Project's instructions; in ChatGPT, your custom instructions, or a project's.

What a line is, and what it is not

The assistant follows the line because it chooses to. That is an expectation, the first of four barriers, and for most of what you will try here it is enough to change what happens. The next question is the right one: what holds it when the assistant does not choose to? What an Agent Behaviour Policy is takes it from there.

Tell us about this example

Five taps and a line, if you have one. The point is for you to be surprised, so tell us if you were not. Your answers stay in this browser until you send them.

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Versions of this example

VersionDateWhat changed
1.0.02026-10-21First version.

Next: Stay on topic: an assistant that only talks about cooking. All of them: the examples.