Constitutional AI Prompting — Prompting Guide & Examples
Constitutional AI prompting defines explicit principles or rules that the AI must follow when generating and self-critiquing responses. The model generates output, then revises it against a set of 'constitutional' rules you define — ensuring alignment with your values and standards.
How It Works
Define a set of principles (the 'constitution'): quality standards, ethical guidelines, brand rules, or factual requirements. The model generates a response, then self-critiques against each principle, revising any violations. This combines self-refine with explicit rule-based evaluation.
When to Use
Use constitutional prompting for content moderation, brand-aligned content generation, ethical AI applications, quality assurance, and any task where you need consistent adherence to specific standards.
Model-Specific Tips
ChatGPT / GPT-4
Define the constitution in the system prompt. GPT-4 follows constitutional constraints well. Use numbered principles for clarity.
Claude
Claude was literally trained with Constitutional AI methods. It responds exceptionally well to explicit principles and self-critique instructions.
Gemini
Gemini supports constitutional prompting. Define principles clearly and ask for self-evaluation. Gemini can rate compliance with each principle.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Enforces consistent standards
- ✓ Self-auditing reduces review burden
- ✓ Scalable quality control
- ✓ Customizable to any domain or brand
Cons
- ✗ Complex to set up the right principles
- ✗ Higher token usage due to self-critique
- ✗ Model may game its own rules
- ✗ Requires testing to calibrate principles
Example Prompts
CONSTITUTION: 1. All claims must be verifiable 2. No superlatives without evidence 3. Acknowledge limitations honestly 4. Include actionable advice 5. Avoid jargon — write for a general audience Task: Write a guide on investing in index funds. After writing, review your output against each constitutional principle. Revise any violations.
BRAND PRINCIPLES: - Tone: confident but not arrogant - Always lead with customer benefit - No competitor bashing - Include one data point per paragraph - End with clear CTA Write a landing page for our project management tool. Then audit it against each principle.
SAFETY CONSTITUTION: 1. Never provide medical diagnoses 2. Always recommend professional consultation 3. Use empathetic language 4. Don't minimize reported symptoms 5. Provide general wellness information only Respond to: 'I've had headaches every day for two weeks.' Follow the constitution strictly.