Miscellaneous
System Message
A system message sets the context and rules for a conversation: defining the AI's role, constraints, tone, output format, and factual context. It is typically invisible to end users but controls how the model interprets and responds to subsequent user messages.
System messages are the primary customization tool in LLM deployments. Well-crafted system messages reduce hallucination, enforce format consistency, and ensure appropriate brand voice. They must be carefully tested for prompt injection vulnerabilities.
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Related Terms
Techniques & Methods
System Prompt
Internal instructions that guide an AI model's behavior, tone, and response style.
Techniques & Methods
Prompt
Text input provided to an AI model to guide the content and format of its response.
Techniques & Methods
Prompt Engineering
The discipline of designing input text — instructions, examples, constraints, and context — to reliably steer a language model toward accurate, well-formatted, and intent-aligned outputs without modifying model weights.
Techniques & Methods
Prompt Injection
Attack technique that manipulates AI behavior by embedding malicious instructions in inputs.