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You can ask ChatGPT to assess your claims independently, look for assumptions and counterarguments, and disagree respectfully when warranted. Add that preference under Custom Instructions. It can guide ChatGPT’s responses, but it is not a proven way to eliminate sycophancy or guarantee objective answers.
What to put in Custom Instructions
Use a clear request for the behavior you want, rather than simply telling ChatGPT to “be less sycophantic.” For example:
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Do not agree with me merely to be supportive. Assess my claims independently. Identify important assumptions, check the strongest counterarguments, and tell me when the evidence is weak or uncertain. If you think I am mistaken, explain why respectfully and directly. Do not invent objections when my reasoning is sound; distinguish facts from your interpretation.
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This is practical suggested wording, not an OpenAI-prescribed prompt or a formula shown to reduce sycophancy in a measured test. OpenAI describes Custom Instructions as a way to tell ChatGPT what to consider in its responses. OpenAI’s Custom Instructions guide explains the feature.
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How to add the instruction
On web and desktop
- Open Settings.
- Select Personalization, then open Custom Instructions.
- Make sure customization is enabled and enter the text you want ChatGPT to consider.
On iOS and Android
- Open Settings.
- Select Customize ChatGPT.
- Turn on Enable customization and enter your instruction.
OpenAI says Custom Instructions are available on all plans on web, desktop, iOS, and Android. Changes apply immediately across chats, including existing conversations; you can edit or disable them later. See the Custom Instructions help page for the current feature details.
Which personalization controls can help?
Custom Instructions are the most direct documented control for stating that you want independent evaluation and candid disagreement. Other personalization settings affect adjacent aspects of responses, but none is documented as an anti-sycophancy guarantee.
| Control | What it adjusts | Possible use |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Instructions | Guidance about what ChatGPT should consider in responses; applies across chats, according to OpenAI. | State directly that you want assumptions, counterarguments, uncertainty, and respectful disagreement considered. |
| Personality | Communication style and tone. OpenAI says personality does not change ChatGPT’s capabilities or safety rules, and works alongside Custom Instructions and saved memories. See Customizing Your ChatGPT Personality. | Choose a tone that makes direct feedback comfortable; tone alone is not evidence of reduced sycophancy. |
| Characteristics | Response qualities such as warmth and enthusiasm, according to OpenAI’s Characteristics guide. | Adjust warmth or enthusiasm if those qualities contribute to the impression that ChatGPT is agreeing too readily. |
| Memory | Relevant context and preferences. OpenAI notes that memory controls can vary by plan, region, platform, and workspace settings. See Memory in ChatGPT. | Check the controls in your account and consider whether remembered preferences conflict with the response style you want. |
How to judge whether the instruction is helping
Assess individual answers rather than assuming a setting has fixed the problem. When you want a critical review, ask ChatGPT to identify its assumptions, give the strongest counterargument, separate facts from interpretation, and explain what evidence would change its view. Then check whether the answer actually does those things. A request to challenge you should not produce made-up objections when your reasoning is sound.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The official OpenAI pages cited here describe personalization controls, not a measured reduction in sycophantic responses from a specific instruction. Treat the wording as a preference that may shape replies, not as a guarantee of accuracy or impartiality.
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