Why This Guide Exists
In the AI Unlocked newsletter, you saw a quick before-and-after showing how a simple personal profile changes the quality of AI responses. This guide goes further.
First, we'll show you exactly where to set up your profile in the three major AI tools. Then we'll walk through five real examples — covering topics you actually care about — so you can see the difference for yourself.
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The one-time instruction used in all examples below
“I'm 67, retired, and not a tech person. I prefer plain English with no jargon. I live in Southern California, I'm on a fixed income, and I use AI for personal projects, travel planning, health questions, and staying informed. Keep responses practical and to the point.”
Less than 60 words. Two minutes to set up. You'll write your own — but this gives you a clear sense of what works.
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Part 1: Where to Set It Up
Each AI tool handles personalization slightly differently. Here's exactly where to find it in each one.
ChatGPT (by OpenAI) — called “Custom Instructions”
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Log in at chat.openai.com |
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Click your profile icon in the bottom-left corner |
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Select “Customize ChatGPT” |
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“What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?” — paste your profile here |
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“How would you like ChatGPT to respond?” — try: “Keep responses short, plain English, skip technical terms.” |
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Click Save. Done — it carries into every new conversation automatically. |
Claude (by Anthropic) — called “Personal Preferences / Profile”
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Log in at claude.ai |
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Click your profile icon (top-right corner) |
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Select “Settings” |
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Look for “Profile” or “Personal Preferences” |
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Enter your profile and save |
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Claude also has a Memory feature that learns over time — but setting your profile manually is faster to start. |
Gemini (by Google) — called “Personalization”
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Log in at gemini.google.com |
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Click the Settings gear icon |
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Look for “Personalization” |
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Enter your profile — or simply start a chat with: “Before we begin, here's a little about me…” and paste it in |
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Gemini also has Gems — custom AI versions built for specific tasks. More on that in a future guide. |
Part 2: Five Before & After Examples
In every example below, the prompt is identical. The only difference is whether the AI had the personal profile or not.
#1 Planning a Vacation
The Prompt: “Help me plan a trip to Italy.”
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✗ WITHOUT Personalization
Italy is a fantastic destination! Here's a suggested itinerary: Rome (3–4 days): Visit the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Trevi Fountain. Book skip-the-line tickets via Viator or GetYourGuide. Florence (2–3 days): Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo. High season runs June–August — book 6–9 months in advance. Budget tip: Trenitalia and Italo offer high-speed rail. Book on the Trainline app.
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✓ WITH Personalization
Italy is a wonderful choice! Let me keep this simple and practical for you. A good first trip focuses on two cities so you're not rushing. Rome and Florence are the classic pairing. One thing worth knowing: Italy in summer is very hot and crowded. Late September or October is usually ideal. I'd suggest 4 nights in Rome, 3 in Florence, and a day trip to Tuscany. No rental car needed — taxis and trains handle everything. Want me to put together a simple day-by-day outline?
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What changed and why
The first response assumed you're a seasoned traveler who knows what Viator and Trenitalia are. The second knew you prefer plain English and practical help — so it started with what matters most (when to go, how to keep it simple). It also picked up on the fixed income context and flagged shoulder-season savings without making it awkward.
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#2 Social Security — When Should I Start?
The Prompt: “When should I start taking Social Security?”
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✗ WITHOUT Personalization
The optimal Social Security claiming age depends on several actuarial and financial variables: Break-even analysis: Delaying from 62 to 70 increases your benefit by ~77%, but you forgo 8 years of payments. Break-even typically falls around age 78–80. Spousal benefits: Coordinating claiming strategies can maximize household lifetime income. Tax implications: Up to 85% of SS benefits may be subject to federal tax. RMDs at age 73 may affect your provisional income calculation.
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✓ WITH Personalization
This is one of the most important financial decisions in retirement — let's walk through it simply. Here's the core tradeoff: Start at 62 and your check is permanently reduced. Wait until 70 and you get the maximum — about 77% more than at 62. A simple rule of thumb: if you're in good health and don't need the money right now, waiting pays off. If health is a concern or money is tight, starting earlier can make sense. The key question is whether you have other income to live on between now and 70. Want me to run a simple comparison showing what your benefit might look like at 62, 67, and 70?
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What changed and why
The first response read like a financial planning textbook — full of acronyms that would leave most people more confused than when they started. The second knew you're on a fixed income and prefer plain language, so it focused on the decision you actually need to make.
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#3 Writing a Thank You Letter
The Prompt: “Help me write a thank you letter to my doctor.”
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✗ WITHOUT Personalization
Dear Dr. [Last Name], I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional care you have provided. Your expertise, thoroughness, and commitment to patient-centered medicine have made a meaningful difference in my health journey. Please extend my thanks to your staff as well. With warm regards, [Your Name]
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✓ WITH Personalization
Dear Dr. [Name], I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you — not just for the great care, but for always taking the time to explain things to me in a way that actually makes sense. That means more than you might think. It's easy to feel lost in the medical system sometimes. You make it feel less that way. Grateful to have you in my corner. [Your Name] Want me to adjust the tone — more formal, more personal, or mention something specific?
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What changed and why
The first letter is fine but stiff and generic — anyone could have written it. The second remembered that you value warmth and plain English, producing something that sounds like a real person wrote it. It also offered to customize further.
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#4 A Medical Question
The Prompt: “I've been having trouble sleeping lately. What should I do?”
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✗ WITHOUT Personalization
Sleep disturbances can be caused by circadian rhythm disruption, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or anxiety disorders. Evidence-based interventions include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Sleep hygiene protocols include consistent sleep/wake schedules and limiting blue light exposure. Pharmacological options include melatonin, sedating antihistamines, or prescription sleep aids such as zolpidem, though long-term use carries dependency risks.
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✓ WITH Personalization
Sleep issues are really common at our age, and the good news is there are some simple things worth trying before going straight to medication. Start with the basics: try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day — even weekends. Avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before bed. Keep your bedroom cool and dark, skip caffeine after noon, and if you wake up at night, get up, do something quiet for 20 minutes, then try again. If this has been going on for more than a few weeks, mention it to your doctor. Is it trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early?
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What changed and why
The first response would be appropriate for a medical student. The second treated you like a person — age-appropriate context, no clinical terminology, something actionable today, and a follow-up question for better help.
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#5 A Movie Recommendation for Tonight
The Prompt: “Recommend a good movie for tonight.”
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✗ WITHOUT Personalization
Here are some highly rated films across genres: Action/Thriller: Top Gun: Maverick. Drama: The Shawshank Redemption. Sci-Fi: Everything Everywhere All at Once. Comedy: The Grand Budapest Hotel. Documentary: Free Solo. Let me know your preferred genre for a more tailored recommendation.
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✓ WITH Personalization
For a relaxed evening in Southern California, here are two picks: Feel-good and easy: “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” (2023) — a quiet, beautifully made film about a retired man who sets out on an unexpected journey. More gripping: “Nyad” (2023) — the true story of Diana Nyad, who at 64 became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Given that you value grit and pushing past what people think is possible, I think you'd connect with this one. Want to know where to stream them?
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What changed and why
The generic list left the decision entirely to you. The personalized version made a real recommendation — and connected it to things it actually knows about you: your age, your location, and the fact that you value impact.
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Wrapping Up
You've now seen what's possible when AI knows a little bit about you. None of these responses required anything fancy — just a short personal profile entered once, in about two minutes.
The prompts didn't change. The effort didn't change. The results changed dramatically.
Your Next Step
Write your own profile — 3 to 5 sentences about who you are, what you do, and how you like information presented. Then set it up in whichever AI tool you use most. You'll feel the difference immediately.
Questions? Reply to the newsletter — we read every one.
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