Persistent custom instructions
DocumentedUser-authored preferences can apply across ChatGPT conversations.
View source detailAgent intelligence
ChatGPT
Official ChatGPT evidence covers model selection, custom instructions, projects, memory, and tools without establishing a published full system prompt.
ChatGPT is documented as a multi-surface product with selectable models, cross-conversation custom instructions, project-scoped context, controllable memory, and product tools. The selected official sources do not publish a complete current base system prompt or one universal runtime configuration.
Scope: ChatGPT web · ChatGPT apps · Selectable OpenAI models · reviewed Aug 11, 2026
Reviewed product surfaces
Product Surface Schematic
Each layer links to the detailed evidence map. Its state applies only to the reviewed evidence.
Reviewed surfaces ChatGPT web · ChatGPT apps
- Base product promptNot established
- Custom instructionsDocumented
- Project instructionsDocumented
- MemoryDocumented
- Tools and modesDocumented
- Not established
- Documented
Source-backed answers
Key behaviors
Each answer is scoped to the selected evidence. “Not established” means the evidence does not support the claim; it does not assert absence.
Project instructions and context
DocumentedProjects can carry instructions alongside chats and uploaded files.
View source detailMemory / persistent guidance
DocumentedMemory is separately controllable, with temporary-chat and project-boundary distinctions.
View source detailTools and modes
DocumentedSearch, research, files, data analysis, images, voice, and canvas are documented product capabilities.
View source detailBase prompt visibility
Not establishedThe selected official sources do not publish a complete current ChatGPT base system prompt.
Review evidence scopeEditorial guidance
What this means in practice
These conservative editorial implications come from the linked evidence. They add no vendor claims or generic prompt advice.
Editorial implication
Choose the instruction scope that matches the work.
Custom instructions can apply across conversations, while Projects combine project-specific instructions, chats, and uploaded files.
Supporting evidenceEditorial implication
Treat memory as a separate, user-controlled context mechanism.
Memory has its own controls and boundaries; temporary chats and project settings affect whether it participates.
Supporting evidenceEditorial implication
Do not assume one fixed tool or prompt configuration.
Models, tools, modes, plans, and surfaces can vary, and the selected evidence does not establish the complete base prompt.
Supporting evidenceUseful next actions
Continue your research
Compare agent behaviorsReview the same evidence-backed questions across all six products.
How does Claude publish product-prompt history?Compare ChatGPT's documentation evidence with Anthropic's dated Claude product-prompt publications.
Why is there no ChatGPT prompt route?Read the source, completeness, and publication gates used across Promptcred.
Review source and provenance detailsVerify origin, retrieval, completeness, publication limits, and rights.
Product scope
ChatGPT is the product; its selected model and enabled capabilities are separate context.
- Organization
- OpenAI
- Product
- Multi-surface conversational AI product
- Surface
- ChatGPT web · ChatGPT appsThe browser-based ChatGPT product surface.
- Model context
- Selectable OpenAI modelsOfficial product documentation treats model choice as separate from the ChatGPT product; availability can vary by plan and surface.
Evidence status
Coverage and review
Official OpenAI help documentation covers product capabilities and user-facing context layers. The review does not claim a complete current ChatGPT system prompt.
- Coverage
- partial
- Primary source
- Tier A · vendor-published
- Review freshness
- currentOfficial OpenAI help documentation was reviewed for capabilities, custom instructions, projects, and memory.
- Reviewed
- Aug 11, 2026
Detailed instruction layers
Instruction-system map
The map separates the unestablished base prompt from custom instructions, project context, memory, model selection, and product tools.
Base product promptnot established
The selected official sources do not publish a complete current ChatGPT base system prompt.
Source detailCustom instructionsdocumented
User-authored preferences can apply across ChatGPT conversations.
Source detailProject instructionsdocumented
Projects can carry instructions alongside chats and uploaded files.
Source detailMemorydocumented
Memory is separately controllable, with temporary-chat and project-boundary distinctions.
Source detailTools and modesdocumented
Search, research, files, data analysis, images, voice, and canvas are documented product capabilities.
Source detailSupporting instruction evidence
Documentation and source coverage
Official sources document the product but do not support a standalone public system-prompt page.
- Selected snapshot
- ChatGPT instruction architecture · reviewed August 11, 2026
- Evidence coverage
- Through Aug 11, 2026ChatGPT instruction architecture · reviewed August 11, 2026
- Latest known vendor version
- Not established by selected evidence
- Current product state
- Not established by selected evidence
- Publication
- Full prompt unavailable
- Instruction page
- Not availableNo verified current full first-party ChatGPT prompt artifact was established in the selected official sources.
Evidence-backed capabilities
Capabilities with evidence
Each capability links to its supporting instruction section and keeps its stated confidence level.
| Capability | What the source establishes | Confidence | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selectable models | Official documentation distinguishes the ChatGPT product from the models paid users can select. | high | Source detail |
| Custom instructions | Users can provide persistent response preferences through product settings. | high | Source detail |
| Project context | Projects organize chats, files, and project-specific instructions. | high | Source detail |
| Memory controls | Memory can be managed separately, and temporary chats do not use or create memories. | high | Source detail |
| Product tools and modes | Search, deep research, images, files, data analysis, voice, and canvas are documented capabilities. | high | Source detail |
Version evidence
Snapshots and meaningful changes
The selected evidence establishes no compatible first-party full-prompt snapshots. Help-center updates are not treated as prompt versions.
- selected ChatGPT instruction architecture · reviewed August 11, 2026Reviewed Aug 11, 2026Documentation coverage
Provenance
Source ledger
Every source lists its origin, retrieval date, completeness, publication limits, and rights separately.
Tier A · vendor-published
ChatGPT capabilities overview
- Publisher
- OpenAI
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official help article reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation; no prompt text copied.
Describes product capabilities and model selection, not one universal runtime configuration or prompt.
Open primary source Tier A · vendor-published
ChatGPT custom instructions
- Publisher
- OpenAI
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official help article reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation.
Documents custom instructions, not the complete product prompt or context assembly.
Open primary source Tier A · vendor-published
Projects in ChatGPT
- Publisher
- OpenAI
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official help article reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation.
Documents project context but not the underlying base system prompt.
Open primary source Tier A · vendor-published
ChatGPT memory FAQ
- Publisher
- OpenAI
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official help article reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation.
Describes user-facing memory behavior; implementation details and a complete runtime context are not established.
Open primary source