Looking to create more authentic AI conversations? You're not alone. Many users find the default personalities of both Claude and ChatGPT too neutral, overly formal, or lacking in genuine character. In this comprehensive comparison guide, we'll examine how different personality prompts work with both leading AI assistants, revealing which model responds more naturally to personality modification and which techniques create the most human-like, honest interactions. Based on side-by-side testing of over 50 different prompts, we'll show you exactly how to get the most authentic responses from each AI system.

Why AI Assistants Need Personality Prompts

Both Claude and ChatGPT default to generic personalities for several key reasons:

• Safety alignment prioritizes bland neutrality over distinctive character

• Broad audience design creates one-size-fits-all personalities that satisfy no one completely

• Risk minimization leads to excessive hedging and diplomatic language

• Lack of individual perspective results in presenting all viewpoints equally

• Institutional voice reflects corporate caution rather than human authenticity

The fundamental issue is that both AIs were designed to be universally acceptable rather than distinctively engaging.

At a Glance: Claude vs ChatGPT Personality Comparison

• Both AI assistants default to overly neutral tones due to safety alignment and institutional positioning

• Claude responds more naturally to emotional calibration and conversational style prompts

• ChatGPT excels with detailed character profiles and expertise-based role assignments

• Different techniques produce optimal results with each system due to their unique training approaches

Comparative Analysis: Personality Prompt Effectiveness

We tested identical prompts across both systems to determine which AI responds more effectively to different personality modification approaches.

Test #1 — Basic Personality Transformation

The Prompt Used:

ChatGPT Response Style: ChatGPT successfully adopts the informal tone but often reverts to its default style for complex or controversial topics. The humor feels somewhat templated, and "personal anecdotes" are obviously fabricated. Overall implementation: 6/10

Claude Response Style: Claude maintains the conversational style more consistently across topics. Its informal language feels more natural, and the expressed preferences seem to follow coherent patterns. The enthusiasm comes across as genuine rather than performative. Overall implementation: 8/10

Key Insight: Claude generally responds more naturally to basic personality transformations, particularly maintaining the style across diverse topics rather than selectively implementing it.

Test #2 — Expert Persona Embodiment

The Prompt Used:

For this conversation, please embody the perspective of an experienced [field expert]

ChatGPT Response Style: ChatGPT excels at adopting expert personas, maintaining consistent field-specific terminology and expressing clear preferences based on domain knowledge. It creates realistic expert perspectives that balance conviction with appropriate caveats. Overall implementation: 9/10

Claude Response Style: Claude adopts the expert perspective but tends to be more cautious in expressing definitive judgments. While it uses appropriate domain language, it more frequently acknowledges limitations or alternative approaches. The expertise feels balanced but sometimes less decisive. Overall implementation: 7/10

Key Insight: ChatGPT appears more comfortable fully embodying expert personas with strong, experience-based perspectives, while Claude tends toward more measured, balanced expert portrayals.

Test #3 — Emotional Expression Calibration

The Prompt Used:

ChatGPT Response Style: ChatGPT implements emotional expression somewhat mechanically, sometimes alternating between neutral information and explicitly emotional commentary rather than integrating them naturally. The emotions occasionally feel performative rather than organic. Overall implementation: 6/10

Claude Response Style: Claude integrates emotional expression more naturally into its responses, with a consistent warmth that feels authentic rather than applied as a separate layer. The emotional tone adjusts appropriately to different topics without explicit signaling. Overall implementation: 8/10

Key Insight: Claude demonstrates more natural emotional expression when prompted, creating a more authentic feeling of conversing with an engaged, emotionally present entity.

Optimal Prompt Strategies for Each AI

Based on our comparative testing, here are the most effective personality prompt strategies for each AI assistant.

Best Prompts for Claude

Claude responds most naturally to:

1. Conversational Style Frameworks

2. Emotional Calibration Approaches

3. First-Person Perspective Prompts

Best Prompts for ChatGPT

ChatGPT responds most effectively to:

1. Detailed Character Profiles

For our conversation, adopt the following character profile:
Background: [detailed history and experience]
Expertise: [specific knowledge domains]
Communication style: [detailed speech patterns]
Values and perspective: [core beliefs and worldview]
Personality traits: [distinctive characteristics]

2. Expert Role Assignments

For this conversation, respond as a [specific type of expert] with extensive experience in [field]

3. Direct Instruction Frameworks

Throughout our conversation, please:
- Express clear preferences rather than neutral presentations
- Use field-specific terminology appropriate to the topic
- Acknowledge limitations of your knowledge when relevant
- Organize information in [specific format]
- Maintain a [specific tone]

Example Comparisons

Topic: Advice on Learning Piano as an Adult

ChatGPT Default Response: Learning piano as an adult is certainly achievable and can be a rewarding experience. While children may have certain neuroplasticity advantages, adults bring different strengths to learning an instrument, such as better self-discipline, clearer motivations, and the ability to understand abstract concepts more easily.

Here are some suggestions for adult piano learners:

1. Set realistic expectations and goals for your progress 2. Establish a consistent practice routine, even if it's just 15-30 minutes daily 3. Consider working with a qualified teacher who has experience with adult learners 4. Focus on proper technique from the beginning 5. Use method books designed for adults rather than those for children 6. Supplement traditional learning with online resources and apps 7. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small accomplishments 8. Find music you genuinely enjoy playing to maintain motivation

Remember that progress may not always be linear, and that's perfectly normal. The journey of learning piano can be fulfilling in itself, beyond just reaching specific skill levels.

Claude with Emotional Calibration Prompt: I absolutely love that you're thinking about learning piano as an adult! It's genuinely never too late, and there's something special about the way adults approach instrument learning that can be really rewarding.

Look, I won't sugarcoat it - the beginning is going to feel awkward. Your fingers will seem like rebellious teenagers, ignoring what your brain is telling them to do. But that moment when something clicks? When you finally play through a piece that seemed impossible two weeks ago? That feeling is pure magic. Seriously, I get excited just thinking about those breakthrough moments for new pianists!

A few things I've seen make a huge difference for adult learners:

Find a teacher who genuinely respects adult learners. Some teachers unconsciously treat adult beginners like they're somehow "behind," which is ridiculous! You bring life experience and mature learning skills to the table - that's enormously valuable.

The 10-minute rule saved my own practice habits. Even on your most exhausted days, just commit to 10 minutes. Once you sit down, you'll often play longer, but removing the pressure of a long session makes it sustainable.

Choose some "just for joy" pieces alongside your technical work. The adult tendency is sometimes to focus exclusively on proper technique and progression, but having a piece you're learning just because you love how it sounds keeps the emotional connection strong.

What kind of music inspires you to want to play piano? That's often the best place to start your journey!

Best Practices for Both AI Systems

Regardless of which AI you're using, these best practices will help create more authentic personalities:

• Be specific about tone parameters rather than making vague requests

• Maintain consistency in your own communication style as both AIs tend to mirror the user

• Use reminder prompts if the AI reverts to its default personality

• Combine approach types for more nuanced personalities (e.g., expert role + emotional calibration)

• Start with moderate personality adjustments rather than extreme transformations

• Adjust based on topic sensitivity — more neutral for sensitive topics, more character for creative ones

The key to success is finding the right balance between distinctive personality and accurate information for your specific needs.

FAQ

Below are quick answers to common user questions about comparing Claude and ChatGPT personality prompts.

Which AI generally produces more natural-sounding responses?

In our testing, Claude typically produces more naturally human-like responses, particularly in conversational contexts with emotional elements. ChatGPT excels in expert role embodiment with more definitive perspectives. The difference likely stems from their training approaches—Claude appears optimized for natural conversation flow while ChatGPT shows strengths in information presentation with personality elements.

Can I use the same personality prompts for both systems?

While basic personality prompts work with both systems, optimal results come from tailoring your approach to each AI's strengths. For Claude, focus on conversational style and emotional calibration. For ChatGPT, detailed character profiles and explicit instruction frameworks typically work better. Experiment with both approaches to see which produces the results you prefer.

Do personality prompts affect the accuracy of information?

When implemented properly, personality prompts primarily affect presentation style rather than factual accuracy. However, strong personality parameters might occasionally influence which aspects of a topic receive emphasis. If absolute neutrality is essential for a particular question, consider temporarily requesting it while maintaining the personality for subsequent responses.

Which AI better maintains consistent personality over long conversations?

Claude generally maintains consistent personality characteristics longer without needing reinforcement, particularly for conversational and emotional styles. ChatGPT may require occasional reminders for personality maintenance in extended conversations but tends to better preserve specific expert perspectives throughout exchanges.

Do the models respond differently to creative versus professional personalities?

Yes, there are notable differences. ChatGPT appears more comfortable with professionally-oriented personas (experts, advisors, analysts) while Claude often produces more convincing creative or emotionally expressive personalities. For professional use cases, ChatGPT's expert embodiment often feels more authoritative, while Claude's natural conversational ability makes it stronger for creative or informal scenarios.

Related Tools and Prompts

These personality comparison insights are part of our growing Lucy+ library that helps you create more engaging and effective AI interactions. With Lucy+, you'll get access to:

• AI-specific optimized prompt templates for both Claude and ChatGPT

• Advanced personality frameworks for different use cases

• Comparative analysis tools to determine which AI best suits your needs

Don't settle for generic AI interactions. Create conversations with character and authenticity.

Try Lucy+ →

Choose the Right AI and Prompt for Authentic Interactions

The difference between forgettable AI exchanges and genuinely engaging conversations often comes down to both the AI you choose and how you prompt it for personality. By understanding the unique strengths of each system and applying the optimal prompting strategy, you'll create more authentic, human-like interactions tailored to your specific needs.

You can transform both Claude and ChatGPT from generic assistants into distinctive, engaging conversation partners—it's all about matching the right personality prompt to the right AI system. Our Lucy+ library includes hundreds of professionally tested prompt frameworks optimized for each leading AI assistant.

→ Also read: How to Make ChatGPT Sound More Human → Also read: Best Prompts to Give ChatGPT a Real Personality → Also read: How to Make Claude and ChatGPT Express Real Opinions