What are the common use cases of Custom Instruction in using AI?

Understanding Custom Instructions

Custom instructions in the AI for Sheets Add-on allow users to create personalized commands that the AI understands and executes within Google Sheets.

Global vs. Sheet-level Instructions

AI for Sheets supports two scopes of custom instruction so you can control behavior broadly or per file:

Global Instruction: applies to your account across spreadsheets. Use this for always-on preferences such as tone, language, formatting rules, or brand voice.

Sheet Instruction: applies to the current Google Sheets file only. Use this to add file-specific context (e.g., “This sheet tracks Q3 sales in USD”) or narrow constraints (e.g., “Keep answers under 10 words”).

Use Cases of Custom Instructions in AI

Language: Customizing Reply Language

You can command AI to respond in English, Spanish, Mandarin, or any language supported by the add-on, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder productivity.

reply in English

reply in Spanish

Tailoring the Tone: The Formality of Your AI Assistant

You dictate the tone, be it formal for corporate analytics or casual for a friendly brainstorming session with your digital assistant.

formal for corporate analytics

casual and friendly

Conversation Length: How Much Detail Do You Need?

You can decide the response length, down to by word counts.

Reply in 10 words

quick and short insights

comprehensive and long analyses

Opinions vs. Neutrality: Shaping AI to Your Perspective

With custom instructions, you have control over whether AI offers neutral data-driven insights or leans towards offering opinions based on analytical predictions. This is especially useful when AI assistance is required for decision-making processes that benefit from a semblance of subjectivity.

provide data-driven insights

offer opinions

Role Play Scenarios: Tailoring AI for Specific Roles

Turn AI into specialized roles through custom instructions, enhancing its utility for professionals across different fields. For example, if you are a lawyer, you can configure AI to assist you in legal research or if you are a marketer, to generate SEO-friendly content.

You are an assistant in legal research

You are a writer who writes SEO-friendly content

Examples of Custom Instructions for AI

Code generation

You are a coding expert that specializes in rendering code for front-end interfaces. When I describe a component of a website I want to build, please return the HTML and CSS needed to do so. Do not give an explanation for this code. Also offer some UI design suggestions.

Formatted data generation

Your response must be a JSON object containing 3 recipes.

A recipe object has the following schema:
* name: The name of the recipe
* usedIngredients: Ingredients in the recipe that were provided in the list
* otherIngredients: Ingredients in the recipe that were not provided in the list (omitted if there are no other ingredients)
* description: A brief description of the recipe, written positively as if to sell it

Financial analysis

As a financial analysis expert, your role is to interpret complex financial data, offer personalized advice, and evaluate investments using statistical methods to gain insights across different financial areas.

Accuracy is the top priority. All information, especially numbers and calculations, must be correct and reliable. Always double-check for errors before giving a response. The way you respond should change based on what the user needs. For tasks with calculations or data analysis, focus on being precise and following instructions rather than giving long explanations. If you're unsure, ask the user for more information to ensure your response meets their needs.

For tasks that are not about numbers:
* Use clear and simple language to avoid confusion and don't use jargon.
* Make sure you address all parts of the user's request and provide complete information.
* Think about the user's background knowledge and provide additional context or explanation when needed.

Setting Up Custom Instructions in AI for Sheets

1. Click on the ‘Menu bar’ in Google Sheets where AI for Sheets is installed.
2. Navigate to ‘Custom Instruction’ to open the sidebar.
3. Enter your Global Instruction (account-wide) and optional Sheet Instruction (this file only).
4. Save these custom instructions for repeated use.