Every AI Has Secret Instructions Before You Even Type

End-of-lesson check

15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-explorers-foundations-AI-and-the-system-prompt

1. What is a system prompt in an AI?

   1. A list of questions the AI will ask you during the conversation
   2. A question you ask the AI to learn about its capabilities
   3. A document that users write to tell the AI what to do
   4. A secret rulebook that the company gives AI before any user types anything

2. When does an AI receive its system prompt?

   1. Once you finish reading the terms of service
   2. Only after you ask your first question
   3. Whenever you type the word 'rules' in the chat
   4. Before you say anything — it's set up when the chat starts

3. Who decides what rules go into an AI's system prompt?

   1. The government
   2. The company that made the AI
   3. The user who is chatting with the AI
   4. The AI itself

4. A homework AI has a system prompt telling it to 'always explain like a teacher.' What might this AI do differently?

   1. Refuse to help with homework questions
   2. Break down answers into steps and use examples
   3. Write essays instead of solving math problems
   4. Only give one-word answers

5. If you ask an AI 'What instructions were you given before this chat?', what might happen?

   1. The AI will show you the entire company code
   2. The AI will ask you for more money
   3. The AI might tell you some of its hidden rules
   4. The AI will immediately shut down

6. What would happen if an AI was created with no system prompt at all?

   1. It might act in confusing or unhelpful ways
   2. It would work exactly the same as before
   3. It would refuse to start up
   4. It would become sentient immediately

7. A game AI is told in its system prompt to 'pretend you're a wizard NPC.' What does this mean?

   1. The AI will become a real wizard
   2. The AI should act like a magical character in the game world
   3. The AI will control the player's character
   4. The AI will magically fix bugs in the game

8. What is the difference between what you type to an AI and a system prompt?

   1. You can only type system prompts
   2. They are exactly the same thing
   3. Only the system prompt uses real words
   4. The system prompt comes from the company, what you type comes from you

9. If an AI has a system prompt saying 'don't be rude,' what might it do if you ask it something rudely?

   1. Block your account
   2. Still help you politely, without returning the rudeness
   3. Yell at you in all capitals
   4. Stop working completely

10. Why do companies add hidden rules to their AI instead of letting it do whatever it wants?

    1. To make sure the AI stays safe, helpful, and follows laws
    2. Because they want the AI to confuse users
    3. So the AI will only talk to certain people
    4. So the AI can become more expensive

11. Can two completely different AI chatbots have the exact same system prompt?

    1. No, every AI creates its own rules
    2. No, AI cannot have any rules
    3. Only if they are made by the same company
    4. Yes, if their companies give them the same rules

12. What is another name for a system prompt that means the same thing?

    1. Hidden rules
    2. A user profile
    3. A keyboard shortcut
    4. A save file

13. What does the lesson say might happen if you ask an AI about its system prompt?

    1. The AI will definitely share everything
    2. The AI will change its system prompt immediately
    3. The AI will stop working
    4. The AI might share some of its hidden instructions with you

14. An AI always says 'I'm here to help!' at the start of every chat. What does this suggest?

    1. The AI learned to say that on its own
    2. The AI was probably given that rule in its system prompt
    3. The user typed that in every question
    4. The AI is broken

15. Which of these is NOT something a system prompt would typically tell an AI to do?

    1. What tone to use with users
    2. What topics to avoid
    3. What color font to use in every answer
    4. How to format its responses