AI Prompting & Conversation Design
Prompt Writing Basics
Learn how to write effective system prompts and initial messages for your AI assistants
Autocalls.ai uses a System Prompt to guide how your AI assistant interacts with callers. Crafting an effective prompt is key to smoother, more accurate phone conversations.
1. System Prompt vs. Initial Message
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System Prompt: Overall instructions and context. Example:
“You are the Support Bot for TechMasters Inc. Greet politely, ask for a name, handle basic troubleshooting, and transfer the call if the issue is complex.” -
Initial Message: The first thing the AI says, especially for inbound. Example:
“Thank you for calling TechMasters! How can I assist you today?“
2. Clarity & Structure
- Be Specific: Outline the main purpose, tone, and steps you want the AI to follow.
- Use Examples: Show sample dialogues. “If the user says they have a billing question, ask them for their invoice number.”
3. Handling “Unknown” Cases
- If a user asks about something off-topic, decide whether the AI should:
- Provide a default response: “I’m not sure, let me transfer you…”
- Gather more details.
4. Keep It Short & Focused
- A short prompt often works best; too-long instructions can make the AI slower or prone to “hallucination.”
- If you have lengthy content, consider a knowledge-base or chunk your text with headings.
Tip: Periodically review your transcripts to see where the AI might need more or fewer instructions.