Why your next ChatGPT prompt should include a backstory

Giving ChatGPT unique personas transforms mundane interactions into entertaining and creative experiences, offering users a refreshing alternative to the AI’s default helpful tone. While these personality-based prompts may not enhance productivity, they showcase how AI chatbots can serve not just as functional tools but as platforms for imaginative engagement and character development for creative projects.

The big picture: A Tom’s Guide writer discovered that assigning unique backstories to ChatGPT created some of their most enjoyable AI interactions, breaking the monotony of the chatbot’s standard enthusiastic persona.

• The author found ChatGPT’s consistent friendliness and exclamation-filled responses had become predictable after years of regular use.
• While ChatGPT has always been capable of adopting different tones (like the classic “explain as a pirate” prompt), these creative possibilities often get overlooked when using the AI for practical, daily tasks.

Key experiments: The writer tested various character-based prompts that transformed ChatGPT’s explanations of complex topics into entertaining scenarios.

• A “cowboy during a standoff” persona produced a dramatic Western-style explanation of AI that referenced “metal skulls” and warned that AI has “no soul, no morals, no gut feelin'” unless properly taught.
• A “nervous salesman making their first pitch” created a hilariously anxious tutorial for cooking paella, complete with stammering and overexplaining.
• An “overconfident cryptocurrency fan who doesn’t actually know much” generated a comically inaccurate explanation filled with vague buzzwords and uncertainty disguised as expertise.

Why this matters: While not practical for serious information gathering, these creative prompts serve valuable purposes beyond mere entertainment.

• Character-based interactions offer a refreshing break from routine AI use and can help users overcome creative blocks.
• The feature provides an accessible way to develop distinctive characters for stories, games, and other creative content.

The bottom line: Though primarily a fun diversion rather than a productivity enhancement, personality prompts showcase ChatGPT’s versatility as both a practical assistant and a creative companion.