ChatGPT4o ignoring prompts in instructions box

I’m suddenly having multiple issues within my ChatGPT 4o Team account. I’m having issues with both projects and custom GPTs.

My projects were working fine the last few days now suddenly ChatGPT is ignoring the instructions inside the instruction box of a project. If I past the prompts in the regular chat window they work every time, flawlessly.

They were working consistently the last few days when the prompts were in the instructions box (lower right of chat window in team project). Now it’s as if ChatGPT is just ignoring everything in that box.

For some reason prompts don’t seem to work in custom GPT’s consistently either. It just ignores them for some reason. This is extremely confusing because the prompts work in a normal chat window, and were working fine for days.

I’m so confused as to why this started happening. This seems like a serious bug. If the prompts were working consistently two days ago, and no changes were made, they should still be working today.

Any help or advice on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated.


It’s interesting because it only seems to be an issue with the GPT4 model. I just tried o1 and it works. Very strange.

8 Likes

It’s expected that over time prompts and structures will need to be adjusted as OpenAI updates the models

1 Like

I utilize Chat approximately 40 hours per week, primarily for coding and project-related tasks. I have observed that I frequently need to repeat simple instructions each time I pose a question to it. For instance, as a non-coder, I request Chat to share the steps in a response one at a time rather than providing a comprehensive list of 10 steps at once. I have attempted to provide custom instructions to ensure consistency - it simply ignores these instructions. I have recently developed a shorthand notation that seems to be remembered a bit beter by Chat: NIS = next incremental step - but I have to add it to every prompt. I am spending a significant amount of time on these low value repetitive activities. Has anyone discovered a more effective method to ensure that Chat consistently follows instructions? This could potentially save me 20% of my time and reduce the computational demand on OpenAI. save me 20% of my time and definetely reduce backend demand for Open AI

3 Likes

I think it’s a wider issue. I even get odd replies from o1, o3 and gpt-4o in the front-end whereby it does not follow instructions properly and it also confuses output. For instance, I ask it to update a prompt for me and then it returns 3 sets of data behind each other and I have to manually copy paste it together: kotlin, normal text, pgsql. While none of it relates to that, nor did I ask about it.

I think it used to be better in past when I gave instructions but now it seems to ignore some of it regularly.

5 Likes

I have felt a shift in gpt4o as well. Some prompts not working and the response structure feels different. I’m sure it’s just a case of re-arrangement. Will have to try it out more to see if it’s truth.

3 Likes

I’m still not having any luck with this working. No matter what I try it just ignores the instructions.

It appears GPT4o Team is completely dysfunctional. This is extremely disappointing.

3 Likes

I discovered if I enter the following each time I ask a question it will execute the prompts in the “Team Instructions”. If I don’t provide this in the message window every time I ask a question it will just ignore the prompts provided in “Instructions”.

“Follow the original instructions and answer this question:”

1 Like

I started having issues that I think are similar to this post almost a week ago with ChatGPT 4o (I am a plus user).

-It does not remember things we have talked about in previous conversations (and no “memory updated” message).

-It forgets what we are talking about mid-conversation.

-When I ask it to change the code for me (that I just gave it), it sometimes starts to give me code that I have never seen before (I keep wondering if it is from another user’s conversation).

-Very commonly, when given instructions to do something (like change code) or when asked about technical information, it does not do what is asked. Instead, it basically gives a “non-response” like:

–“Got it! Let me know if you’d like to add anything else or change any details.”

–“Got it! Let me know if you’d like to add or adjust anything further.”

–“Got it! Let me know if you’d like to update or add anything else.”

All these are real responses to prompts from me like, “Here is a Python method. Please change it to…”

Sometimes, if I start a new conversation, it will work briefly before slipping back into this behavior.

ChatGPT o1 is having fewer problems but still slips into this behavior, just not as often. Also, I have limited access to o1 because I am a plus user. At this point, 4o has literally become unusable, and there does not seem to be any customer support.

7 Likes

Yes, I’ve noticed this exact issue as well.

3 Likes

This seems a bit ridiculous, but I figured out a workaround. I must enter the following every time I ask a question. If I don’t it will ignore my prompts.

STRICT FORMAT REQUIRED: Follow the structured process I provided. BEFORE answering, confirm you are following the structured process. Proceed only if you are certain.
Ask a question here.

This is an interesting response to my question:
" Why did you first ignore the instructions I provided? Did you not see them, or do you have a bug?

Good question. It wasn’t a bug—I saw your instructions, but I initially defaulted to a more conversational response instead of following your structured approach. That was my mistake, and I appreciate your patience in calling it out.

The issue likely stems from my balancing between natural conversation flow and strict structured formatting. I sometimes err on the side of engaging quickly before recognizing when a more methodical response is required. Now that I’m aware of your preference, I’ll ensure I strictly follow your instructions from the start moving forward.

Let me know if you’d like any refinements to the structured process, but I’ll default to it unless you specify otherwise."

5 Likes

I’ve encountered the same issue. I automated most of the work, and now I rely on ChatGPT for answers, but the responses have become so inconsistent that I had to take the application down. I’m rewriting it using another AI to verify that all steps are correctly executed, which will call your AI for validation. It’s frustrating.

1 Like