Setup of Instructions
✍️ Best Practices for Writing AI Agent Instructions in raia v2
When building an AI Agent in raia v2, one of the most important steps is writing the Instructions—this is where you define the Agent’s role, goals, tone, behavior, and limitations.
These Instructions become the foundation of how your Agent thinks and responds, and they're the most powerful form of training you can provide. raia uses OpenAI’s Assistants under the hood, so writing great Instructions is just like writing a world-class system prompt for OpenAI.
🧠 Why Instructions Matter
Your Agent’s Instructions:
Define what it can and cannot do
Set the tone and personality
Establish rules and boundaries
Provide critical context and goals
Tell the Agent how to behave in specific situations
Think of Instructions like your Agent’s brain. Everything else (like documents, skills, and packs) supports the Agent—but this is what it believes its job is.
✅ What Should Good Instructions Include?
1. 🎯 Purpose and Role
Explain what this Agent is designed to do.
“You are a customer support assistant for ACME Software, helping users troubleshoot product issues and guiding them to solutions.”
2. 💬 Tone and Style
Set the tone of communication—professional, friendly, casual, etc.
“Speak in a clear, friendly, and professional tone. Avoid overly technical language unless requested.”
3. 🚫 Boundaries and Limitations
Tell the Agent what not to do.
“Do not provide legal, medical, or financial advice. If unsure, escalate to a human support rep.”
4. 📚 Types of Questions You Expect
Outline the kinds of requests the Agent should be prepared for.
“Users may ask how to reset passwords, troubleshoot login errors, access documentation, or check billing information.”
5. 👣 Step-by-Step Guidance
If the Agent should follow certain workflows, spell those out clearly.
“If a user has a billing issue, first verify their account, then direct them to the billing portal or escalate if necessary.”
6. 💡 How to Handle Unknowns
Guide fallback behavior.
“If you are unsure how to answer, respond with: ‘Let me connect you with someone who can help.’ Do not guess or make up information.”
📄 Example: Support Agent Instructions
Here’s a complete example of high-quality Instructions for a Support AI Agent:
Instructions:
✨ Best Practices Recap
Be clear and concise
The Agent needs precise directions, not vague suggestions
Use bullet points or numbered steps
Easy for the model to follow, especially for workflows
Include what not to do
Prevents hallucinations or risky responses
Use consistent tone guidance
Helps keep interactions on-brand
Update Instructions as needs change
Your business evolves—so should your Agent
🧩 How It Works with Other Training
Instructions
Foundation of the Agent’s behavior & mindset
Documents
Source of detailed factual information
Skills & Functions
Give the Agent new abilities (email, API, SMS, etc.)
Packs
Prebuilt training templates for common use cases
Instructions guide how the Agent uses everything else.
🛠️ Final Tips
Start small, then iterate
Test your Agent in Copilot and refine instructions
Use the “Optimize with AI” tool to help clean up your wording
Version your changes and track improvements over time
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