AI Instructions

Last updated: September 24, 2026

AI Instructions let you tell Ask Polar how to behave in every chat, so you don't have to repeat the same context each time. Use them to explain how your business works, define terms your team uses, and set how you'd like answers written.

When to use AI Instructions

Ask Polar doesn't know your internal vocabulary unless you tell it. If your team says "DTC," "wholesale," or "core products," the AI has to guess what those mean in your data. AI Instructions let you define them once.

Common uses:

  • Defining business terms, for example which sales channels count as DTC.

  • Naming the metrics your team relies on most.

  • Describing your company, products, or how you like analysis done.

  • Setting your preferred response style, such as short summaries or detailed breakdowns.

Workspace instructions vs. user instructions

There are two types of instructions, and they apply to different people.

Workspace instructions

Shared by everyone in your workspace. Use these for context that's true for your whole team, like a company overview, key metrics, business definitions, and analysis methods.

User instructions

Only applied to your own chats in this workspace. Use these for personal context, like your job title, goals, or the response style you prefer. Other users won't see or be affected by them.

Writing good instructions

Write instructions the way you'd brief a new analyst on your team. Be specific about what a term means and what the AI should do with it. For example:

When I say DTC or DTC only, filter Sales Channel to Online Store and Shop App.

Net Revenue is our main revenue metric. Use it unless I ask for a different one.

Avoid vague instructions like "be accurate" or "focus on important metrics." They don't give the AI anything to act on.

Setting up AI Instructions

  1. Go to Settings › AI Instructions, or open it directly here: https://app.polaranalytics.com/settings/ai-instructions

  2. Add shared context in the Workspace instructions box.

  3. Add personal context in the User instructions box.

  4. Select Save

Related features

If you have several similar metrics and want Ask Polar to pick the right one, you can also use Labels. Instructions are best for defining terms and context, and labels are best for steering which metric the AI chooses.