system prompt

A 'system prompt' is the hidden initial instruction given to an AI model that defines its role, tone and rules (for example, 'You are a helpful assistant; refuse to provide harmful advice'). Users typically don't see it. If your teen mentions modifying or seeing a system prompt, they are engaging with AI at a technical level. Useful AI-literacy vocabulary; standard for anyone using or building with large language models.

'System prompt' is AI/ML terminology for the initial, often hidden, instruction given to a large language model that defines its role, tone, capabilities and constraints (e.g., 'You are a helpful customer-service assistant; refuse harmful requests'). Distinct from the user prompt. Register: technical, AI/ML industry. In academic writing acceptable as-is, sometimes hyphenated. A common learner mistake is to confuse it with 'prompt engineering' (the broader skill of writing effective prompts); the system prompt is one specific element.