Custom GPTs not following instructions + no way to report it

ChatGPT
1

I’m a researcher relying on Custom GPTs for structured editorial and genealogical work.

Despite embedding detailed formatting and research rules in the Custom GPT’s instructions, it forgets or ignores them during long sessions or after breaks. This defeats the purpose of using a Custom GPT as a reliable assistant.

Even more frustrating: there is no way for the creator to inspect, re-inject, or reassert those instructions

And the final kick in the pants: the Help Center at help.openai.com says that there is no way to submit written feedback on issues with a custom GPT

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: Specific Problems:

  1. Instruction Drift: My GPT assistant stops following its own embedded guidance mid-session.
  2. No Access to Instructions at Runtime: As the creator, I can’t verify what it knows or reassert its brief.
  3. No Feedback Channel: I can’t submit a proper bug report about my own GPT. The “Review GPT” only allows star ratings, and the “Report” button is for offensive content—not functionality loss.

:pushpin: Feature Requests:

  • A button or command to view the active instructions during a session.
  • Ability to reassert the instructions manually if drift occurs.
  • Dedicated technical feedback form for GPT creators reporting functionality gaps.

:bullseye: Why This Matters:

I use ChatGPT in a professional research setting. When a Custom GPT loses its instructions or stops following style guides, it results in time-consuming cleanup and breaks trust in the platform. I should not have to re-paste my brief into memory over and over.

Custom GPTs were presented as persistent assistants—please give us the tools to hold them accountable to that promise.

Environment Details (as of June 2025):

  • Platform: ChatGPT Desktop App (Windows)
  • Plan: ChatGPT Plus (GPT-4)
  • Custom GPT Name: Arch (Genealogical Assistant)
  • Memory: Enabled
  • Behavior Issue Frequency: Recurs in nearly every long-form session over 45+ minutes
  • Typical Session Length: 1–4 hours, often continuous
  • Instructions Format: Embedded using Custom GPT builder (Instructions + Personality)
  • Drift Example: Style guides (e.g., avoiding surname repetition), formatting discipline, research workflow steps—forgotten or ignored mid-session.
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