Use a persona in a thread
Select the persona control at the top of a thread and choose a persona. Its text is added to the model's instructions on every message you send.
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Select the persona control at the top of the thread, next to the model name, and choose a persona. Every message you send from then on carries the persona's text as part of the model's instructions.
The control reads Persona when none is chosen, and shows the persona's name once one is.
Choose a persona
- Select Persona at the top of the thread. On a narrow screen, open the thread's More options menu and choose Personas.
- Type in Search personas to narrow the list.
- Select a persona.
Only your private personas appear here. If the list is empty it reads No personas found.
Clear the persona
Open the same control and select the remove button on the persona that is currently chosen. The thread goes back to plain replies.
A persona stays chosen
Your choice is remembered in this browser and applied to new threads until you clear it. Check the control at the top of a thread before you send if you want plain replies.
See exactly what the model is told
Select the document button next to the chosen persona. A window headed with the persona's name shows the text the model receives, under a note: Sent once per turn, after the platform system prompt. The platform prompt is not shown. Below the title is its size in characters and approximate tokens.
A persona changes the model's instructions only. It does not change which model runs, which tools are available, or what your attachments do.
If it did not work
- Replies read the same as before: check that the control shows a persona name and not Persona.
- The persona you made for a workgroup is not listed: the thread picker lists private personas only.
- The system prompt could not be loaded.: close the window and open it again.
- Costs went up after choosing a persona: the persona text is sent with every message. See What your requests cost.
Related pages
- Create a persona — Open Personas in the AI Studio sidebar, select Add Persona, and fill in the role and instructions the model should follow.
- What your requests cost — The Plans page in the AI Studio sidebar shows what pays for your requests, which limits can stop them, and a history of what you have used.
- Start a conversation in AI Studio — Open AI Studio, type your question in the message box, and press Enter. AI Studio creates a thread and streams the reply.