Create Custom Prompts: How to Build Your Own AI Keyboard Assistant

Ever wondered how to make your keyboard do exactly what you want? Like, wouldn't it be super cool if your keyboard could write emails in your style or help with specific tasks without you having to type everything out? Well, that's what we're gonna talk about today - building your very own AI keyboard assistant with custom prompts.

I've been using AI keyboards for years now, and lemme tell you, once you figure out how to customize them, they're game changers. So let's dive in and I'll show you how to create these custom prompts that'll make your typing life way easier.

Understanding AI Keyboard Assistants and Custom Prompts

What exactly are custom prompts? And how do they work with AI keyboards? These are questions I get asked all the time.

AI keyboard assistants are basically smart helpers built into your keyboard app that can generate text, correct grammar, and even write entire messages based on what you tell them to do. The "prompts" are the instructions you give to these assistants. Think of them as recipes - if you give good instructions, you get good results.

Most people just use the default prompts that come with apps like CleverType or other AI keyboards for iOS. But the real magic happens when you create your own custom prompts tailored to your specific needs.

Custom prompts can be simple like "summarize this email" or complex like "write a professional response to this client inquiry, maintaining a friendly tone while addressing their concerns about pricing." The more specific you are, the better results you'll get.

The big difference between default and custom prompts? Default ones are general-purpose, while custom ones are built specifically for your unique writing situations. It's like having a personal assistant who knows exactly how you like things done.

Benefits of Creating Your Own AI Prompts

Why should you bother creating custom prompts? Aren't the built-in ones good enough? Well, there's a bunch of reasons why custom prompts are worth the effort.

First off, custom prompts save tons of time. I used to spend ages writing similar emails or messages, but now I just trigger my custom prompt and boom - first draft done in seconds. For real, I've cut my typing time by like 70% for routine communications.

They also help maintain consistency in your writing. If you're managing social media accounts or sending lots of business emails, custom prompts ensure your tone and style stay consistent across all communications.

Another huge benefit? Custom prompts reduce mental fatigue. Don't ya hate having to think about how to word that same type of message for the hundredth time? With custom prompts, you offload that mental work to your AI assistant.

I've created custom prompts for everything from responding to meeting requests to drafting creative stories with my kids. The possibilities are literally endless.

How to Access Prompt Customization in Popular AI Keyboards

So you're convinced and wanna start creating custom prompts. But how do you actually access this feature in your keyboard app? Let's break it down for the most popular AI keyboards.

In CleverType, you'll find the custom prompt feature in Settings - AI Assistants - Custom Prompts. It's super straightforward - you can create new prompts, edit existing ones, and organize them into categories. What I love about CleverType is that you can assign shortcuts to your prompts, so you can trigger them with just a few keystrokes.

For other AI keyboards on Android, the location varies but usually follows a similar pattern. Look for sections labeled "AI Settings," "Custom Assistants," or something similar. Some apps might hide this feature behind a premium subscription, so keep that in mind.

If you're using a ChatGPT keyboard, you'll typically find prompt customization in the ChatGPT integration settings. These often allow more complex prompts since they're powered by more advanced language models.

One tip I've found helpful: Take screenshots of the customization screens when you first explore them. The interfaces can sometimes be a bit confusing, and having visual references helps when you want to make changes later.

Most AI keyboards also offer template libraries where you can browse pre-made custom prompts created by other users. These are great starting points that you can then modify to suit your specific needs rather than building everything from scratch.

Crafting Effective Custom Prompts: Step-by-Step Guide

Alright, now for the fun part - actually creating your custom prompts! This is where the magic happens, but it does take a bit of practice to get right.

Step 1: Identify Your Needs

Start by thinking about what types of messages you send frequently. Do you often write customer service responses? Team updates? Creative content? Make a list of these common scenarios. For me, I realized I was writing similar email responses to clients, social media posts, and meeting summaries almost every day.

Step 2: Structure Your Prompt

A good custom prompt has three main parts:

1. Clear instruction - What exactly do you want the AI to do?
2. Context - Any background info the AI needs to know
3. Output format - How should the response be structured?

Here's an example:

Instruction: Write a polite response to a client inquiry
Context: I run a graphic design business and need to maintain professional relationships
Output format: Start with a greeting, address their specific question, offer next steps, and end with my standard signature

Step 3: Add Specificity and Constraints

The more specific you are, the better. Include details like:

• Tone (formal, casual, friendly, etc.)
• Length (short and sweet or detailed)
• Key points to include or avoid
• Examples of preferred phrasing

One trick I've learned is to include phrases like "Write in my voice" followed by examples of how you typically write. This helps the AI match your personal style.

Step 4: Test and Refine

Your first attempt probably won't be perfect, and that's okay! Test your prompt with different scenarios and refine it based on the results. I usually go through 3-4 iterations before I'm happy with a custom prompt.

Pay attention to where the AI misunderstands or produces awkward text. Those are clues that your prompt needs clarification. Sometimes adding just a few words can dramatically improve the results.

Examples of Useful Custom Prompts for Different Scenarios

Let's look at some real-world examples of custom prompts that I've found super useful. Feel free to use these as starting points for your own!

Business Communication Prompt

Write a professional email response to a client. Maintain a friendly but formal tone. Address their concerns directly. Keep it concise (under 150 words). Include a clear next step or call to action. Sign off with "Best regards, [Your Name]".

This prompt is great for quickly responding to client emails while maintaining a consistent professional tone.

Social Media Content Prompt

Create an engaging social media post about [topic]. Use a conversational tone with 1-2 emojis. Include a question to encourage engagement. Keep it under 280 characters for Twitter compatibility. Add relevant hashtags at the end.

I use variations of this prompt to keep my social media content consistent and engaging without spending hours crafting each post.

Meeting Summary Prompt

Summarize the key points from my meeting notes below. Format as bullet points under these headings: Decisions Made, Action Items (with owner and deadline), Open Questions. Keep each bullet concise and action-oriented. 

Meeting notes: [paste your rough notes here]

This has been a lifesaver for quickly creating and sharing meeting summaries that everyone can easily digest.

Creative Writing Prompt

Help me continue my story. Match the existing tone and style. Add descriptive details and dialogue. Advance the plot but end with a mini-cliffhanger to keep readers engaged. Write approximately 200 words.

My story so far: [paste your story beginning]

Great for overcoming writer's block when working on creative projects!

Personal Assistant Prompt

Act as my personal assistant. Review my schedule below and draft a message to decline this meeting request. Suggest 2-3 alternative times when I'm available. Be polite but direct. Mention that the topic is important to me.

My schedule: [paste calendar details]
Meeting request: [paste request details]

This prompt helps manage your calendar and communications without spending mental energy crafting the perfect response.

Advanced Techniques for Power Users

Once you've mastered the basics, there are some advanced techniques that can take your custom prompts to the next level.

Prompt Chaining

This involves creating a series of prompts that build on each other. For example:

1. First prompt: Generate ideas for a project
2. Second prompt: Expand on idea #2 from the previous response
3. Third prompt: Create an action plan for implementing the expanded idea

This approach allows you to have more complex interactions with your AI assistant while keeping each individual prompt focused and effective.

Contextual Variables

Some advanced AI keyboards allow you to include variables in your prompts that get filled in at runtime. For example:

Write a follow-up email to {{contact_name}} regarding our meeting on {{meeting_date}} about {{meeting_topic}}. Reference our agreement to {{action_item}} by {{deadline}}.

When you use this prompt, the keyboard app will ask you to fill in these variables, making the prompt incredibly flexible while still providing structure.

Persona-Based Prompts

You can create prompts that instruct the AI to adopt specific personas or writing styles:

Write as if you are a friendly but knowledgeable teacher explaining {{topic}} to a beginner. Use simple analogies and break down complex concepts. Ask check-in questions throughout to ensure understanding.

This technique is particularly useful for educational content or when you need to communicate complex information to different audiences.

Feedback Loops

Include instructions in your prompts for how to improve the AI's responses:

After generating your initial response, review it for clarity and conciseness. Identify any jargon or complex sentences and simplify them. Ensure all key points are addressed.

This meta-instruction helps the AI self-edit and generally produces more polished results.

Privacy and Security Considerations

When working with AI keyboards and custom prompts, privacy should always be a top concern. Here's what you need to know to keep your data safe.

First off, understand how your keyboard app handles data. Some apps process everything on-device, which is generally more private, while others send data to cloud servers. Check the privacy policy of your chosen app - it's boring, I know, but super important.

Be careful about what information you include in your prompts. Avoid putting highly sensitive data like passwords, financial details, or confidential business information in your custom prompts. Remember that these prompts are usually stored somewhere, either on your device or in the cloud.

Most AI keyboards offer privacy settings that you should review and configure. Look for options like:

• Incognito mode for sensitive typing
• Data retention policies
• Options to exclude certain apps from AI features
• Controls for what data is shared for model improvement

CleverType and several other AI keyboard apps have made privacy a priority, but settings can vary widely between apps.

If you're using custom prompts in a professional context, make sure you're complying with your organization's data policies. Some companies have specific rules about using AI tools with work-related information.

One practical tip: create a test prompt specifically designed to check what information your AI remembers from previous interactions. This can help you understand the data retention practices of your keyboard app.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with the best setup, you'll occasionally run into issues with your custom prompts. Here's how to fix the most common problems.

Problem: AI generates irrelevant or off-topic responses

Solution: Your prompt might be too vague. Add more specific instructions and constraints. Also, check if you're providing enough context for the AI to understand what you're asking for.

Problem: Responses are too long or too short

Solution: Explicitly specify the desired length in your prompt. For example, "Write a concise response (about 3-4 sentences)" or "Provide a detailed explanation (approximately 300 words)."

Problem: AI doesn't match your writing style

Solution: Include examples of your writing style in the prompt. You can say something like "Write in my style, which is typically conversational with short sentences and occasional humor, like this example: [insert your writing sample]."

Problem: Custom prompt works sometimes but not others

Solution: Your prompt might be too context-dependent. Make it more robust by accounting for different scenarios. Alternatively, create multiple versions of the prompt for different contexts.

Problem: AI repeatedly makes the same mistakes

Solution: Add specific instructions to avoid those mistakes. For example, "Do not use jargon or technical terms" or "Always include pricing information."

If you're still having trouble, try breaking complex prompts into simpler ones. Sometimes asking the AI to do too many things at once can confuse it.

Also, remember that different AI keyboards have different capabilities. What works perfectly on one app might need adjustments on another.

Integrating Custom Prompts into Your Daily Workflow

Having great custom prompts is one thing, but integrating them seamlessly into your daily workflow is what really saves time and reduces friction.

Start by identifying your most frequent typing tasks and create custom prompts for those first. The 80/20 rule applies here - focus on the 20% of writing tasks that take up 80% of your time.

Assign easy-to-remember shortcuts or gestures to your most-used prompts. In CleverType, you can create text shortcuts like "/meeting" that expand into your full custom prompt. This makes triggering them lightning fast.

Consider organizing your prompts by context or app. For example, have a set of prompts for email, another for social media, and another for creative writing. Some AI keyboards even let you automatically activate different prompt sets based on which app you're using.

Create a habit of reviewing and refining your prompts monthly. As you use them, you'll notice ways to improve them or new scenarios you hadn't considered. Keep a note on your phone where you jot down ideas for new prompts or improvements as they occur to you.

Gradually introduce new prompts rather than creating dozens at once. This gives you time to get comfortable with each one and integrate it into your workflow naturally.

One approach I've found helpful is "prompt templates" - creating generic versions of prompts that you can quickly modify for specific situations. For example, a template for responding to different types of customer inquiries that you can quickly customize for the specific situation.

Future of Custom AI Assistants in Mobile Keyboards

The world of AI keyboards and custom assistants is evolving rapidly, and the future looks pretty exciting.

We're already seeing early signs of multi-modal assistants that can work with both text and images. Imagine being able to include visual instructions in your prompts, or having your AI assistant generate or edit images alongside text. This capability is beginning to appear in some cutting-edge keyboards.

Personalization is getting more sophisticated too. Future AI keyboards will likely learn your writing style automatically, without needing explicit examples. They'll observe how you write in different contexts and adapt their responses accordingly, making custom prompts even more effective.

Context awareness is another frontier. Next-gen keyboards will better understand the broader context of your conversations, including previous messages, the person you're talking to, and even external factors like time of day or location.

Voice integration is becoming more seamless as well. Voice typing with AI is already here, but future systems will likely allow you to create and trigger custom prompts entirely by voice, making the experience even more natural.

On the technical side, we'll probably see more on-device processing for better privacy and faster response times. This means your custom prompts will work even without an internet connection and with minimal data sharing.

The biggest change might be the integration of custom AI assistants throughout the mobile experience, not just in the keyboard. Your personalized prompts might eventually work across all your apps and services, creating a consistent AI helper throughout your digital life.

As these technologies evolve, the line between typing and having a conversation with your device will continue to blur. Custom prompts will become more like training a personal assistant than programming a tool.

Conclusion: Building Your Personal AI Assistant

Creating custom prompts for your AI keyboard isn't just about efficiency—it's about building a personalized assistant that understands how you communicate and what you need.

We've covered a lot of ground in this guide, from the basics of what custom prompts are to advanced techniques for power users. The key takeaway? Start simple, be specific in your instructions, and refine based on results.

Your first custom prompts don't need to be perfect. Like any skill, prompt crafting improves with practice. Begin with a few prompts for your most common writing tasks, and expand from there as you get comfortable with the process.

Remember that the goal isn't to replace your own voice or thinking, but to handle routine communications more efficiently so you can focus your creative energy where it matters most. The best AI assistants amplify your capabilities rather than substitute for them.

As AI keyboard technology continues to advance, the possibilities for custom assistants will only grow. By developing your prompt-crafting skills now, you'll be well-positioned to take advantage of these improvements as they arrive.

I'd love to hear about the custom prompts you create and how they help your daily typing! Share your experiences and we can all learn from each other's approaches.

Ready to get started? Choose an AI keyboard app with customization features, create your first prompt following our guide, and begin building your personal AI assistant today!