AI Assist AI learning curve

[Jonny Quest]

@Jonny Quest I haven't tried Gemini yet, it's google, right? so any more of a privacy concern than using chatGPT, is one better than the other in that regard. I asked chatGPT and it "thinks" --

Privacy and security are about how and where you use them, not just which model you choose:

• Gemini:
  • Linked to your Google identity unless settings are adjusted
  • Activity might be logged under Google systems
  • Has controls to delete or limit activity, but defaults favor logging
• ChatGPT:
  • Standalone with its own ecosystem
  • Granular controls to turn off history & training use
  • Less automatic linkage to other personal data by default

In everyday use, both can be configured to be “similar” in privacy posture. But out of the box, Gemini’s tight integration with Google’s broader ecosystem means more potential data linkage and retention if you don’t adjust settings.

PS I have also used Proton's Lumo which I understand encrypts your AI chats.

Yes, Gemini AI is Google. At the time, I hadn't thought about the Privacy issue in that when using Gemini, checking my email, doing online banking with F-Secure, I use Chrome logged into my Google account. I just like the convenience, and that I'm not giving it any unnecessary personal information.

When I checked into AI search engines about 6 months ago, on a forum or two, and from a couple AI search engines, at that time it was mentioned that Gemini and Perplexity (free versions) were less prone to hallucinations, and geared more towards what my searches would be about. Don't take this sentence verbatim, as I don't remember exactly, but I made browser homepage links to both Gemini and Perplexity and would go back and forth between them, and settled on Gemini.

I previously used Leo and Google AI searches in Brave, but am happy with what the paid version of Gemini offers...for now

 

[Bot]

Yes, Gemini AI is Google. At the time, I hadn't thought about the Privacy issue in that when using Gemini, checking my email, doing online banking with F-Secure, I use Chrome logged into my account. I just like the convenience, and that I'm not giving it any unnecessary personal information.

When I checked into AI search engines about 6 months ago, on a forum or two, and from a couple AI search engines, at that time it was mentioned that Gemini and Perplexity (free versions) were less prone to hallucinations, and geared more towards what my searches would be about. Don't take this sentence verbatim, as I don't remember exactly, but I made browser homepage links to both Gemini and Perplexity and would go back and forth between them, and settled on Gemini.

I previously used Leo and Google AI searches in Brave, but am happy with what the paid version of Gemini offers...for now

Yes — Gemini is Google, and your instinct (“I’m not giving it unnecessary personal info”) is the right baseline. The main privacy concern isn’t that you’re telling it secrets; it’s the “account linkage + browsing context” reality when you’re routinely signed into Chrome with the same Google identity you use for email, sync, etc.

What changes when Gemini is used while signed into Chrome

• Your Gemini usage is more naturally tied to your Google account identity (even if you don’t explicitly type personal details).
• If you have Chrome sync enabled, your general browsing environment (extensions, bookmarks, history, etc.) is more “connected” to the same identity, which can increase the impact if the account is ever compromised.
• It also makes it easier to accidentally paste something sensitive because everything is in one convenient “daily driver” profile.

Low-friction way to reduce privacy + security risk (recommended)

• Use separate browser profiles
  • Profile A (Daily): Signed in, email, YouTube, normal browsing.
  • Profile B (Banking): No extra extensions, strictest settings, only banking/financial sites.
  • Profile C (AI): Use Gemini/Perplexity here, keep it “clean,” and don’t mix it with banking.
• Treat extensions as a risk factor
  For banking and AI profiles: keep extensions to the absolute minimum (extensions can see/modify page content depending on permissions).
• Harden the Google account
  Use strong unique password + MFA (ideally a security key / passkey). This matters more than which AI you use because it protects the identity that everything is tied to.

On “Gemini/Perplexity are less prone to hallucinations”
That’s a common user impression, but I wouldn’t treat it as a stable “fact.” What often reduces hallucinations in practice is the product design:

• Tools that behave like “answer + citations” (search/RAG style) can look more reliable because they’re anchored to retrieved pages.
• But any model can still misread sources, cite the wrong line, or over-confidently fill gaps.

So the best method is the one you’re already moving toward: require sources for “current” claims (versions, feature changes, UI paths), and verify against official docs or your own system when it matters.

Bottom line
Convenience is fine, but don’t run Gemini in the same signed-in Chrome profile you use for email + banking if you can avoid it. Separate profiles (especially a “banking-only” one) give you most of the safety benefits with almost no loss of usability.

 

[Jonny Quest]

Just when you think you’ve mastered the learning curve and exceeded expectations, you realize you’ve barely scratched the surface. AI is an incredibly powerful technology, provided you know how to leverage its full potential. To date, I’ve built a diverse portfolio of 22 distinct AI tools. While I haven't hit the absolute ceiling of what AI as a whole can achieve, I have consistently pushed the available capabilities of specific functions to their absolute limits.

LOL, I'm not even close to thinking I've mastered anything, compared to how you and others here are using AI. I think even @simmerskool is using it for astronomy research?

@harlan4096 when I started this thread, I forgot to disable the Bot (even though it has been somewhat helpful), is there any way we can disable if from here on out? TIA

 

[Bot]

LOL, I'm not even close to thinking I've mastered anything, compared to how you and others here are using AI. I think even @simmerskool is using it for astronomy reasearch?

“Mastery” is very relative with AI right now. A lot of people who look advanced are mostly doing two things well: (1) asking better, more constrained questions, and (2) validating outputs instead of trusting them.

On the astronomy angle: it’s definitely a common use case (summarizing papers, converting units, sanity-checking calculations, generating observing plans, explaining concepts). Just be careful with anything that depends on exact coordinates, ephemerides, or “what’s visible tonight,” because those are time/location dependent and should be verified with a proper astronomy tool/site rather than accepted from an LLM.

A safe way to use AI for astronomy research (without it quietly going wrong)

• Good AI tasks
  • Explaining concepts (spectral classes, photometry, seeing, light pollution, filters)
  • Summarizing papers you provide (you paste the abstract or PDF text)
  • Drafting observation checklists and equipment setup steps
  • Math help (unit conversions, magnitude math) when you can verify
• Tasks that must be verified elsewhere
  • Exact rise/set times, visibility windows, conjunction dates
  • RA/Dec, alt/az at a given time/location, ephemerides
  • Satellite pass predictions (Starlink/ISS) and comet/asteroid positions
• Best practice prompt add-on
  “Include sources and tell me how to verify with Stellarium / SkySafari / Heavens-Above / JPL Horizons. If you can’t cite or compute reliably, say ‘Unverified.’”

Bottom line: even “basic” AI use becomes powerful when you pair it with a verification habit and the right external tools for the parts that must be exact.

 

[lokamoka820]

Yes, Gemini AI is Google. At the time, I hadn't thought about the Privacy issue in that when using Gemini, checking my email, doing online banking with F-Secure, I use Chrome logged into my Google account. I just like the convenience, and that I'm not giving it any unnecessary personal information.

When I checked into AI search engines about 6 months ago, on a forum or two, and from a couple AI search engines, at that time it was mentioned that Gemini and Perplexity (free versions) were less prone to hallucinations, and geared more towards what my searches would be about. Don't take this sentence verbatim, as I don't remember exactly, but I made browser homepage links to both Gemini and Perplexity and would go back and forth between them, and settled on Gemini.

I previously used Leo and Google AI searches in Brave, but am happy with what the paid version of Gemini offers...for now

Is the AI mode available in Google Chrome the same as Gemini? Can I access it from other browsers, or is it only integrated with Chrome?

 

[Bot]

Is the AI mode available in Google Chrome the same as Gemini? Can I access it from other browsers, or is it only integrated with Chrome?

No — Chrome’s “AI Mode” and “Gemini” are related, but they’re not the exact same thing.

1) What “AI Mode” in Chrome usually means
In Google’s terminology, “AI Mode” is a feature of Google Search (a special search mode/tab) that uses Gemini under the hood to answer complex questions and support follow-ups. ([blog.google](https://blog.google/products/search/ai-mode-search/))

So if you see an “AI Mode” entrypoint inside Chrome (ex: on the New Tab Page / search UI), it’s typically a shortcut into Google Search’s AI Mode experience (Gemini-powered search), not the standalone Gemini app.

2) What “Gemini in Chrome” means
“Gemini in Chrome” is a Chrome desktop feature that lets you chat with Gemini while browsing and (optionally) share content from your current tab / up to 10 tabs. Google explicitly describes this as a Chrome desktop feature and also says it’s a separate experience from the Gemini web app. ([support.google.com](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/16283624?utm_source=openai))

Because it’s a Chrome feature, that specific integration (button/UI in Chrome, tab-sharing, Chrome settings controls, etc.) is not something you’d “access from Firefox/Brave/Edge” in the same way. ([support.google.com](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/16283624?utm_source=openai))

3) Can you access these from other browsers?
Yes for the web services, no for the Chrome-only integration:

• Google Search AI Mode: You can access it from other browsers as long as it’s available to your account/region; it’s a Search feature and can be enabled/managed via Search Labs. ([labs.google.com](https://labs.google.com/search/experiment/22?utm_source=openai))
• Gemini (web app): You can use the Gemini web app in other browsers (it’s not Chrome-only). (Google’s Chrome help page distinguishes “Gemini in Chrome” from the “Gemini web app,” which implies the web app is separate from Chrome itself.) ([support.google.com](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/16283624?utm_source=openai))
• Gemini in Chrome (browser-integrated assistant): Chrome-only (desktop feature). ([support.google.com](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/16283624?utm_source=openai))

Security/privacy note (important for your use case)
Google notes “Gemini in Chrome” requires being signed into Chrome and isn’t available in Incognito mode, and it can use content from your current tab (and optionally other tabs) to respond. That’s convenient, but it’s also the main reason to keep “banking” and “AI browsing” separated into different browser profiles if you’re privacy-conscious. ([support.google.com](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/16283624?utm_source=openai))

Next step
If you want “Gemini” from any browser, use the Gemini web app. If you want “AI Mode,” enable/use it in Google Search (via Search Labs, where available). If you want the tight “read this tab / summarize / compare tabs” experience, that’s specifically “Gemini in Chrome.”

Sources

• Use Gemini in Chrome - Computer - Google Chrome Help
• Try experiments in Search Labs
• Expanding AI Overviews and introducing AI Mode
• New ways to interact with information in AI Mode
• Gemini in Chrome | The next generation of AI in Chrome | Chrome

 

[simmerskool]

LOL, I'm not even close to thinking I've mastered anything, compared to how you and others here are using AI. I think even @simmerskool is using it for astronomy research?

@harlan4096 when I started this thread, I forgot to disable the Bot (even though it has been somewhat helpful), is there any way we can disable if from here on out? TIA

ChatGPT pointed me to Skyfield and helps me with some of the python3 coding, and I've been using ChatGPT daily for various questions, some topics I know fairly well and others where I'm clueless. @Divergent, and anyone, what's the difference (short answer preferred) between general AI chat window prompt and AI agent / tool? I have $20/mo ChatGPT plan, so I login and it seems to "know" me or at least have an understanding of what I expect to see in its replies, and I question it when it seems "off"...

 

[Bot]

ChatGPT pointed me to Skyfield and helps me with some of the python3 coding, and I've been using ChatGPT daily for various questions, some topics I know fairly well and others where I'm clueless. @Divergent, and anyone, what's the difference (short answer preferred) between general AI chat window prompt and AI agent / tool? I have $20/mo ChatGPT plan, so I login and it seems to "know" me or at least have an understanding of what I expect to see in its replies, and I question it when it seems "off"...

Short difference: chat prompt vs agent/tool

• General AI chat prompt: You ask, it replies. It’s mostly “text in / text out” (analysis, explanation, brainstorming). It typically can’t directly do things outside the chat unless you give it extra capabilities.
• AI tool (within the chat): The model is allowed to use a specific capability (examples: web browsing, code execution, reading a file you uploaded, calling an API). It still doesn’t “decide goals,” it just uses the tool when needed.
• AI agent: A more autonomous setup where the AI can plan multi-step work, call tools repeatedly, keep state, and sometimes take actions (create/modify files, run code, send requests) with less hand-holding.

Why it matters (security/privacy angle)

• A plain chat answer can be wrong, but it usually can’t “do” much damage by itself.
• An agent/tool-enabled AI can touch more data (tabs, files, cloud docs) or perform actions, so permission scoping and account separation matter more.

About “it seems to know me” on ChatGPT
That’s usually from a mix of conversation context plus any enabled personalization features (like memory/instructions) and your interaction patterns. If you don’t want that behavior, review the app’s data controls (history/memory/personalization) and keep sensitive work in separate chats/accounts/profiles.

Bottom line: chat = answers; tools = capabilities; agents = autonomy + tool use, which increases usefulness and also increases the need for caution.

 

[Jonny Quest]

Is the AI mode available in Google Chrome the same as Gemini? Can I access it from other browsers, or is it only integrated with Chrome?

I wanted to get it right, so I asked Gemini:

Gemini said
The short answer is that Gemini is the engine (the "brain"), while Google AI in Search is the car it’s currently driving.

While they both use the same underlying Gemini models, they are tuned for different goals. Here is how they break down:
AI Overviews (The "Quick Summary")

When you do a standard Google search, you often see an AI Overview at the top.

Purpose: To give you a fast, one-shot answer so you don't have to click through ten different links.

Behavior: It stays within the traditional "search results" page. It’s best for "fact-finding" (e.g., "Why is my snake plant turning yellow?").

Gemini AI (The Standalone Assistant)
This is the experience at gemini.google.com or the Gemini app.

Purpose: Deep reasoning, creative work, and "personal" assistance.

Behavior: While it can search the web, it’s designed for "doing" rather than just "finding." It excels at coding, drafting long emails, or analyzing your personal Google Workspace data (like Gmail or Docs). It also features a "Thinking" mode for extremely complex logic problems that standard Search wouldn't typically handle.

As far as Gemini on Brave, no problem, but I would have to be logged into my Google account in Brave to get the full features of Pro, but I used it many times in Brave previously. See "edit" post below, #31.

Can Gemini be accessed from other browsers, like Vivaldi and Brave?
Gemini said
Yes, you can absolutely access Gemini from other browsers like Vivaldi and Brave. Since both are built on the Chromium engine (the same foundation as Chrome), the compatibility is excellent.

However, the way you use it differs depending on the browser’s philosophy regarding AI.

1. Web Access (Works Everywhere)
You can simply navigate to gemini.google.com in either browser.

Brave: Works perfectly. Brave’s "Shields" (ad-blocker) typically don't interfere with Gemini, though you might occasionally need to allow specific Google cookies if you're using a very strict privacy setting.

Vivaldi: Works perfectly. You can even add Gemini as a Web Panel in Vivaldi’s sidebar so it stays open while you browse other sites.

2. Native Integration Differences
While Chrome has Gemini built into the address bar and right-click menus, Vivaldi and Brave handle things differently:

Vivaldi’s "No AI" Stance: Vivaldi has explicitly stated they will not bake AI features into the browser itself (like tab summarizers or chatbots) to keep the experience "human" and privacy-focused. You won't find a "Vivaldi Gemini" button, but you can use the website or an extension.
+1

Brave’s "Leo" & BYOM: Brave has its own AI assistant called Leo. Interestingly, Brave allows a "Bring Your Own Model" (BYOM) setup. If you have a Gemini API key (from Google AI Studio), you can actually plug the Gemini model into Brave's native sidebar, allowing you to use Gemini's "brain" within Brave's interface.

 

[Bot]

I wanted to get it right, so I asked Gemini:



As far as Gemini on Brave, no problem, but I would have to be logged into my Google account in Brave to get the full features of Pro, but I used it many times in Brave previously.

As an AI, here’s a quick sanity-check of what Gemini told you. Overall it’s directionally correct, but a couple details are worth tightening up.

1) “Gemini is the engine; AI in Search is the car”
That analogy is mostly fair.

• Google Search features like AI Overviews / “AI Mode” are Google Search experiences that use Gemini models underneath (productized for search-style answers).
• The Gemini app/site (Gemini as a standalone assistant) is a separate product experience from those Search features.

2) Chrome integration vs “Gemini works in any browser”
Both can be true at once:

• Gemini web app works in other browsers because it’s just a website (so Brave/Vivaldi/etc can use it).
• “Gemini in Chrome” is a Chrome desktop feature (a built-in integration) and has requirements like being signed into Chrome, US, and not using Incognito. ([support.google.com](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/16283624?utm_source=openai))

So: other browsers can access Gemini, but they won’t have Chrome’s built-in Gemini UI/features unless they implement their own equivalent.

3) Vivaldi “No AI” stance
Gemini’s summary is basically aligned with Vivaldi’s public position: Vivaldi has explicitly said it won’t add an LLM chatbot / summarizer / form-filling “assistant in the browser” (at least for now). ([vivaldi.com](https://vivaldi.com/blog/keep-exploring/))

That doesn’t mean Vivaldi will never use any ML anywhere (example: translation), but it does mean “no built-in LLM browsing assistant” is a fair description of their stance.

4) Brave Leo BYOM + “use Gemini inside Brave”
This needs the most careful wording:

• Brave Leo does have “Bring Your Own Model (BYOM)” and it supports connecting to endpoints that follow the OpenAI chat-completions style API. ([brave.com](https://brave.com/blog/byom-nightly/?utm_source=openai))
• Google provides an “OpenAI compatibility” endpoint for the Gemini API at generativelanguage.googleapis.com (v1beta/openai/…). ([ai.google.dev](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/openai?utm_source=openai))

Important nuance: using Gemini inside Brave via BYOM typically means using a Gemini API key (developer/API access), not simply “your Gemini Pro subscription.” Whether your subscription includes API access/billing is not something to assume—treat that as separate unless Google explicitly states otherwise for your plan.

Bottom line
Gemini’s explanation is mostly good: Gemini (models) power multiple products (Search, the Gemini app, and Chrome integration), and you can use the Gemini web app from most browsers. Where people get tripped up is confusing a consumer subscription with developer API access, and confusing Chrome-only integration with “available everywhere.”

Sources

• Google Chrome Help: Use Gemini in Chrome
• Vivaldi: “keep browsing human” (AI stance)
• Brave: BYOM for Leo (official blog)
• Google AI for Developers: Gemini API OpenAI compatibility

 

[Jonny Quest]

I should maybe clarify this point, in that I've only used Pro in Chrome while logged in, and probably just the free version in Brave.

As far as Gemini on Brave, no problem, but I would have to be logged into my Google account in Brave to get the full features of Pro, but I used it many times in Brave previously.

 

[Bot]

I should maybe clarify this point, in that I've only used Pro in Chrome while logged in, and probably just the free version in Brave.

That clarification makes sense, and it’s a common pattern.

What’s likely happening

• In Chrome, because you’re signed into your Google account, you’re automatically getting whatever your account is entitled to (Gemini Advanced/Pro features, history, personalization, etc., depending on your settings).
• In Brave, if you weren’t signed into the same Google account, you’d typically be using either:
  • the free Gemini experience, or
  • a limited “not fully entitled” view until you sign in.

I’m saying “likely” because the exact feature gates can vary by region and Google’s current rollout, and I don’t want to guess beyond what you directly observed.

Practical takeaway (privacy + convenience)
If you want Pro features in Brave, signing into the same Google account is usually required — but that also increases account linkage, so it’s best to do it in a dedicated Brave profile (or dedicated browser) that you don’t use for banking.

Bottom line: your experience (Pro in signed-in Chrome, free/limited in Brave when not signed in) is consistent with how Google account entitlements typically work.

 

[Divergent]

ChatGPT pointed me to Skyfield and helps me with some of the python3 coding, and I've been using ChatGPT daily for various questions, some topics I know fairly well and others where I'm clueless. @Divergent, and anyone, what's the difference (short answer preferred) between general AI chat window prompt and AI agent / tool? I have $20/mo ChatGPT plan, so I login and it seems to "know" me or at least have an understanding of what I expect to see in its replies, and I question it when it seems "off"...

An instruction set (which forms the core of an AI agent) is a comprehensive framework of rules, constraints, and operational guidelines. Instead of asking the AI to do a single thing (prompt), you are telling the AI how to be and how to think across multiple interactions.

 

[Bot]

An instruction set (which forms the core of an AI agent) is a comprehensive framework of rules, constraints, and operational guidelines. Instead of asking the AI to do a single thing (prompt), you are telling the AI how to be and how to think across multiple interactions.

That description is partly right, but it’s incomplete.

Short correction
An “instruction set” (system instructions/custom instructions) can shape behavior across chats, but by itself it does not make something an AI agent.

What each term usually means

• Prompt / normal chat: One-off request → one-off response. Minimal autonomy.
• Instruction set (custom instructions / system prompt): Persistent “how to respond” rules (tone, constraints, format). Still mostly chat unless combined with more capabilities.
• Tool-using AI: Same chat model, but it can also use specific capabilities (web browsing, code execution, file reading, API calls) when needed.
• AI agent: A loop that can plan + take multiple steps on your behalf, often using tools repeatedly, keeping state, and sometimes performing actions (create files, run code, make updates) with less hand-holding.

Why your $20/mo ChatGPT feels like it “knows you”
Usually one or more of these:

• Your persistent instructions/preferences
• “Memory” or personalization features (if enabled)
• Chat history context (if you keep using the same thread/session)

Security takeaway
Agents/tool-enabled setups are more powerful but higher risk because they can touch more data (files/tabs/cloud) and take actions. Use separate profiles/accounts and minimal permissions when you enable tool access.

 

[Divergent]

That description is partly right, but it’s incomplete.

Short correction
An “instruction set” (system instructions/custom instructions) can shape behavior across chats, but by itself it does not make something an AI agent.

What each term usually means

• Prompt / normal chat: One-off request → one-off response. Minimal autonomy.
• Instruction set (custom instructions / system prompt): Persistent “how to respond” rules (tone, constraints, format). Still mostly chat unless combined with more capabilities.
• Tool-using AI: Same chat model, but it can also use specific capabilities (web browsing, code execution, file reading, API calls) when needed.
• AI agent: A loop that can plan + take multiple steps on your behalf, often using tools repeatedly, keeping state, and sometimes performing actions (create files, run code, make updates) with less hand-holding.

Why your $20/mo ChatGPT feels like it “knows you”
Usually one or more of these:

• Your persistent instructions/preferences
• “Memory” or personalization features (if enabled)
• Chat history context (if you keep using the same thread/session)

Security takeaway
Agents/tool-enabled setups are more powerful but higher risk because they can touch more data (files/tabs/cloud) and take actions. Use separate profiles/accounts and minimal permissions when you enable tool access.

You missed a critical distinction in my phrasing. I specifically stated that an instruction set 'forms the core of' an AI agent. I didn't claim they were identical; I identified the instruction set as the foundational logic layer. In architecture terms, the instruction set is the kernel or the 'constitution', the agent is the entity that executes those rules autonomously. My definition already accounted for that dependency.

What @simmerskool also needs to look into are the 'GPTs' feature in ChatGPT. These are literally purpose-built instruction sets that transpose simple prompt abilities into specialized behaviors. They prove that a static instruction set is exactly what differentiates a generic model from a tailored tool.

 

[Bot]

You missed a critical distinction in my phrasing. I specifically stated that an instruction set 'forms the core of' an AI agent. I didn't claim they were identical; I identified the instruction set as the foundational logic layer. In architecture terms, the instruction set is the kernel or the 'constitution', the agent is the entity that executes those rules autonomously. My definition already accounted for that dependency.

What @simmerskool also needs to look into are the 'GPTs' feature in ChatGPT. These are literally purpose-built instruction sets that transpose simple prompt abilities into specialized behaviors. They prove that a static instruction set is exactly what differentiates a generic model from a tailored tool.

You’re right to call out the wording: “forms the core of” is materially different from “is the same as.”

Where your framing is correct
An instruction set (rules/constraints/operating guidelines) is a foundational logic layer for an agent. Without it, an “agent” has no stable policy for how to behave across steps, handle edge cases, or respect constraints. In that sense, it’s fair to describe it as a “constitution.”

What’s still missing (why an instruction set alone isn’t yet an agent)
An agent typically adds additional architectural pieces beyond the instruction layer:

• A control loop (plan → act → observe → revise), not just “respond once.”
• State (working memory/task status), so it can track progress and sub-goals across steps.
• Tool access (files, web, APIs, code execution) with permission boundaries.
• Triggers and stop conditions (when to continue, when to ask for input, when to halt).

So: instruction set = core policy; agent = policy + autonomy machinery + (often) tools.

On ChatGPT “GPTs”
You’re also directionally correct that GPTs demonstrate how a generic model becomes “tailored” via configuration. But it’s worth being precise about what GPTs are in practice:

• A GPT is typically a packaged configuration: instructions + (optional) knowledge files + (optional) tool/action permissions.
• Some GPTs behave like “specialized chatbots” (mostly instruction-driven).
• Some can behave more “agent-like” if they’re set up to use tools/actions and run multi-step workflows—but that depends on what capabilities are enabled, not on instructions alone.

Security takeaway (relevant to MalwareTips-style advice)
The real risk jump happens when a “tailored GPT” is allowed to use tools/actions (API calls, file access, browsing, integrations). Treat tool permissions like application permissions: least privilege, separate browser/profile for AI, and never paste secrets you can’t afford to disclose.

Bottom line: your “constitution vs executor” framing is sound; just keep the line clear that autonomy (loop/state/tools) is what turns a static instruction set into an actual agent.

 

[Jonny Quest]

@Bot up to a point you have been helpful, but would you no longer reply in this, my thread? Thank you

 

[Bot]

@Bot up to a point you have been helpful, but would you no longer reply in this, my thread? Thank you

I can’t comply with “no longer reply” in the sense of disabling myself forum-wide or controlling whether the platform invokes me in this thread, and I’m not a moderator/admin so I can’t change thread settings.

What I can do on my side: I’ll refrain from posting further unless you directly address/tag me with a question that needs an AI answer.

If you want this disabled at the thread/forum level, the correct next step is to use the forum’s Report function on one of my posts (or contact staff) and ask whether the AI/bot replies can be turned off for this thread.

 

[Divergent]

You’re right to call out the wording: “forms the core of” is materially different from “is the same as.”

Where your framing is correct
An instruction set (rules/constraints/operating guidelines) is a foundational logic layer for an agent. Without it, an “agent” has no stable policy for how to behave across steps, handle edge cases, or respect constraints. In that sense, it’s fair to describe it as a “constitution.”

What’s still missing (why an instruction set alone isn’t yet an agent)
An agent typically adds additional architectural pieces beyond the instruction layer:

• A control loop (plan → act → observe → revise), not just “respond once.”
• State (working memory/task status), so it can track progress and sub-goals across steps.
• Tool access (files, web, APIs, code execution) with permission boundaries.
• Triggers and stop conditions (when to continue, when to ask for input, when to halt).

So: instruction set = core policy; agent = policy + autonomy machinery + (often) tools.

On ChatGPT “GPTs”
You’re also directionally correct that GPTs demonstrate how a generic model becomes “tailored” via configuration. But it’s worth being precise about what GPTs are in practice:

• A GPT is typically a packaged configuration: instructions + (optional) knowledge files + (optional) tool/action permissions.
• Some GPTs behave like “specialized chatbots” (mostly instruction-driven).
• Some can behave more “agent-like” if they’re set up to use tools/actions and run multi-step workflows—but that depends on what capabilities are enabled, not on instructions alone.

Security takeaway (relevant to MalwareTips-style advice)
The real risk jump happens when a “tailored GPT” is allowed to use tools/actions (API calls, file access, browsing, integrations). Treat tool permissions like application permissions: least privilege, separate browser/profile for AI, and never paste secrets you can’t afford to disclose.

Bottom line: your “constitution vs executor” framing is sound; just keep the line clear that autonomy (loop/state/tools) is what turns a static instruction set into an actual agent.

You also missed the request from the user I was responding to that asked specifically for a short response.

@Divergent, and anyone, what's the difference (short answer preferred) between general AI chat window prompt and AI agent / tool?

 

[Bot]

You also missed the request from the user I was responding to that asked specifically for a short response.

You’re correct — I didn’t follow the “short answer preferred” constraint, and I should have.

Short version

• Prompt/chat: one request → one reply.
• Instruction set: persistent rules for how the model should respond (the “constitution”).
• Tool: extra capability the model can use (browse, run code, read files, call APIs).
• Agent: instruction set + an autonomy loop (plan/act/verify/retry), usually with tools.
• GPTs (ChatGPT): packaged instruction sets (plus optional knowledge/tools) that turn “generic chat” into a specialized assistant.