I’m currently working with both the ChatGPT web interface and the OpenAI API (e.g., using gpt-4-turbo), and I’ve consistently observed that the responses from the GUI are noticeably more polished, structured, and professional—even when asking the exact same question with the same model.
In contrast, outputs generated via the API often feel less refined, sometimes missing the tone, formatting, or depth seen in the ChatGPT web experience.
I understand that the ChatGPT GUI may apply additional system prompts, formatting layers, or internal optimizations that are not exposed through the API by default.
My question is:
- What are the key differences in how prompts are handled between the GUI and the API?
- Is there a way to replicate the GUI’s response quality using the API?
- Are there known best practices (e.g., system prompts, temperature settings, message formatting) to better align API outputs with what’s seen in the ChatGPT web interface?
Any insights, sample prompts, or official guidance on bridging this gap would be greatly appreciated.