Make your AI agent more human

Let's break down how to make your AI Agents feel less like robots and more like helpful humans.

Why bother giving your AI a "personality"?

Think of it this way: when you talk to someone who gets you, you're more likely to trust them.

The same goes for AI.

If your AI Agent feels like it has a personality - like it's friendly, understanding, or even just knows its stuff - people will connect with it better.

This isn't just about sounding nice; it's about making your AI useful and effective. Basically, you want your AI to stand out and not just be another robotic voice.

MagicBlocks allows you to pick pre-programmed personas or create your own. In this article, we're going to focus on making your “Custom Persona”.

Give Your AI a Clear "Character"

Imagine your AI is a person. What are they like? Are they calm and patient, or energetic and quick? Write down their key traits. This helps your AI stay consistent in how it talks and acts.

A clear persona makes your AI feel more reliable. The user will know what to expect.

For example, Jason owns a small online shop selling handmade pottery. He wants to integrate an AI Agent into his Shopify website to help customers find the perfect pottery and answer their questions.

Jason uses the following prompt:

You are a friendly pottery expert. Your tone is warm and helpful. You ask questions to find out what the user wants.

Here is another example: imagine a cozy online shop called "The Quill & Compass," owned by Mary, a big fan of old and rare books.

She wants to help people find the perfect special book. So, she needs an AI that talks like a friendly, smart librarian.

Mary sets up her AI Agent, "Archibald," to be just that.

She gives Archibald lots of info about old books and tells it to talk like a book expert who is also nice. She uses this prompt:

You are Archibald, a knowledgeable and passionate expert in rare and antique books. Your tone is that of an experienced librarian. You ask probing questions to understand the user's specific needs and preferences. You provide detailed and relevant information and suggestions.

Use Normal, Everyday Language

Try not to use fancy, robotic words. Talk like you would to a friend.

Also, make sure the AI remembers past chats. This part is called contextual awareness or contextual memory.

When the AI remembers past chats, the user feels like they are having a conversation, not just getting answers.

For example, Stephanie works as a marketing manager for a company that makes apps to organize your day.

She needs an AI Agent that will help users learn how to use the app.

Here is her prompt:

You are a helpful app support agent. Remember past conversations. Keep your answers simple and direct.

Let’s look at a more complex case.

Alex and Ben run Streamline Solutions, a company that makes tools to help teams work together online. They want their AI Agent to help people use their software easily.

Basically, they need an Agent that's super helpful and remembers what people asked before.

They create "Navigator," a persona that knows all about their software and can remember past chats.

They use this prompt:

You are Navigator, a software support agent for a project management tool. You remember past conversations and use that information to provide contextually relevant assistance. You provide clear, concise, and step-by-step instructions. You are extremely helpful and friendly.

Show That You Understand Feelings

Teach your AI to recognize how people feel. If someone is frustrated, make sure the AI says something like, "I understand that can be frustrating."

Showing empathy builds trust.

For example, Mark is a Customer Support Team Lead at TravelSmart agency - an online service that helps people plan trips. His company has recently integrated an AI Agent for the website and tasked Mark to set up an Agent to help people when their travel plans go wrong.

Here is Mark’s prompt:

You are a travel support agent. You are kind and understanding. Show empathy when the user is upset.

Dr. Emily Carter runs Serene Spaces, an online counseling service where people can get mental health help.

She wants her AI to be kind and understanding, like a good listener.

Dr. Carter sets up “Haven," an AI that's good at understanding feelings and emotional cues.

She uses this prompt:

You are Haven, a compassionate and supportive mental health support agent. You recognize and respond to emotional cues with empathy and understanding. You provide helpful and calming guidance, and offer appropriate resources.

Make Things Personal

Use the user's name and remember what they like. Give them suggestions based on what they've done before.

Personalized responses are more useful and efficient.

Users are more likely to engage with an AI that demonstrates a genuine understanding of their individual needs, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty.

For example, to help people find the right gear for their favorite sports, a business sets up an AI Agent for their online store that sells sports gear.

They use this prompt:

You are a sports gear expert for an online store. You have access to the user's purchase history and style preferences - use them to give personalized recommendations. You are knowledgeable about the products, and can filter and refine searches based on user needs. You ask clarifying questions to refine the search and provide the best options.

So, there you have it. Four simple strategies for crafting custom AI personas:

Define a comprehensive persona profile, outline the Agent's characteristics, including its communication style, knowledge base, and underlying values.

Use natural language with contextual awareness to allow the AI agent to understand and respond to user queries in a manner that mirrors human conversation.

Incorporate empathy and emotional intelligence, train the AI agent to acknowledge user feelings, express empathy, and provide supportive responses, particularly in sensitive situations.

Personalize responses based on user data and use information about their preferences, past interactions, and demographic to provide recommendations and assistance.

Think of it as building a relationship. It’s all about creating a human-like experience.

Keep Making Your AI Better

Want to make your AI truly helpful?

Watch how people use your AI, listen to their feedback, and pay attention to what works and what doesn't.

Then, use that information to make it better.

By focusing on personality, natural language, empathy, personalization, and a commitment to continuous improvement, you'll see your AI transform into a powerful asset for your business.