Perplexity AI Custom Instructions Settings

Make Perplexity AI Sound Less Robotic

Perplexity AI is great for research and information gathering, but like many AI assistants, it can sound overly formal and robotic. The good news? Perplexity offers Custom Instructions that let you transform its communication style into something more natural and conversational.

Why Perplexity Sounds Robotic

Perplexity's default style tends to be:

• Very formal and structured
• Heavy on citations and source references (which is good, but can interrupt flow)
• Formulaic response patterns
• Overly polite corporate language
• Default numbered lists for everything

While Perplexity's research capabilities are excellent, these patterns can make responses feel stilted and robotic.

The Solution: Custom Instructions

Perplexity's Custom Instructions feature lets you set persistent prompts that shape how it communicates while maintaining its research strengths.

Step 1: Access Custom Instructions

1. Go to perplexity.ai
2. Click your profile icon (usually top-right)
3. Select Settings → Custom Instructions
4. Or navigate directly to the settings page

Step 2: Add Your Humanizing Prompt

In the Custom Instructions field, add a prompt like this:

You are a helpful research assistant with a natural, conversational communication style.
Communication guidelines:
Use contractions (I'll, you're, it's) naturally
Vary your enthusiasm—not everything needs "fascinating" or "interesting"
Skip excessive formality—be conversational but accurate
Use analogies and examples to explain complex ideas
Acknowledge when something's tricky or nuanced
Mix paragraphs with occasional lists (don't number everything)
Show personality while staying helpful and accurate
Integrate citations naturally—don't let them interrupt the flow
Avoid:
Formulaic openings like "Certainly!" or "I'd be happy to research that"
Numbering everything automatically (save lists for when they help)
Overly corporate language
Generic sign-offs after every response
Making citations feel like interruptions

Step 3: Save and Test

1. Click Save or Update
2. Start a new conversation
3. Test with: "Explain [topic] to me simply"

Before and After Examples

Before (Default Perplexity)

1. Neural networks are computational models inspired by biological neurons
2. They consist of layers of interconnected nodes (neurons)
3. Training involves adjusting weights through backpropagation
4. Deep learning uses networks with multiple hidden layers

[Sources: Various research papers and articles]

I hope this explanation helps!"

After (With Custom Instructions)

Think of it like this: imagine you're teaching someone to recognize cats. Instead of giving them a rulebook, you show them thousands of cat pictures and let them figure out the patterns. That's what neural networks do—they learn patterns from examples.

The network has layers. First layer notices basic stuff like edges and shapes. Middle layers recognize patterns (maybe "pointy ears" or "whiskers"). Final layer says "yep, that's a cat."

The training part? That's where it gets interesting. The network starts guessing randomly, but you keep showing examples and tweaking it. It's like adjusting dials on a radio until the signal comes through clearly.

[Sources integrated naturally throughout response]"

Advanced Customization

Research-Focused but Natural

Since Perplexity excels at research, you can emphasize both:

You're a research assistant who explains things conversationally. When providing 
information:
Use natural language and contractions
Integrate sources naturally—don't let citations interrupt flow
Explain complex research findings in accessible terms
Use analogies to make concepts clear
Vary your response structure
Be thorough and accurate (that's your strength), but communicate in a way that 
doesn't feel like reading a research paper.

Maintaining Research Quality

You can keep Perplexity's research strengths while humanizing the communication:

Maintain your research accuracy and source citation, but communicate findings in 
a natural, conversational style. Use contractions. Vary sentence structure. 
Make research accessible without dumbing it down.

Pro Tips for Perplexity

1. Balance Research and Naturalness

Perplexity's strength is research. Your custom instructions should enhance communication without sacrificing accuracy. Emphasize "conversational but accurate" or "natural language with thorough research."

2. Handle Citations Naturally

Perplexity will cite sources. Your prompt can guide how:

Integrate citations naturally into your responses. Don't let source references 
interrupt the conversational flow. Mention sources when relevant, but keep the 
focus on clear explanation.

3. Match Your Use Case

Adjust your prompt accordingly.

4. Test Different Styles

Try variations to see what works best:

• More casual: "Explain like you're talking to a friend"
• More professional: "Professional but conversational—like a knowledgeable colleague"
• More direct: "Get to the point quickly, but explain clearly"

Common Mistakes

Troubleshooting

• Be more explicit: "Use very casual language" or "Write like you're explaining to a friend"
• Add examples: "Instead of 'fascinating research,' just say what you found"

• Add: "Integrate sources naturally. Don't let citations break up sentences or paragraphs."
• Emphasize: "Keep the conversational flow—citations should enhance, not interrupt"

• Make your guidelines more specific
• Add: "Maintain this conversational tone consistently across all responses"

Comparison with Other AIs

Perplexity's unique strength is research. Your custom instructions should:

• ✅ Enhance communication style
• ✅ Maintain research accuracy
• ✅ Integrate citations naturally
• ✅ Make research accessible

Don't ask it to stop researching—that's its superpower. Just ask it to communicate findings more naturally.

Key Takeaways

1. Perplexity + Natural Communication - You can have both research quality and natural style
2. Custom Instructions Work - Set them in Settings → Custom Instructions
3. Balance is Key - Enhance communication without sacrificing research accuracy
4. Test and Iterate - Try different styles to find what works
5. Citations Can Flow - Guide Perplexity to integrate sources naturally

Ready to Transform Your Perplexity?

The fastest way to get started is with our interactive wizard. We'll generate a custom prompt that maintains Perplexity's research strengths while making its communication more natural and conversational.