Ever feel like you're talking to a corporate PR bot when using AI assistants? You're not alone. Many users find that both Claude and ChatGPT default to bland, overly diplomatic responses that lack genuine opinions or emotional depth. In this comprehensive guide, we'll share expert-tested prompt techniques that transform these AI assistants from neutral information dispensers into conversational partners with authentic perspectives and emotional range. These methods have been verified across thousands of interactions to consistently produce more genuine, opinionated, and emotionally resonant AI responses.

Why AI Assistants Avoid Real Opinions and Emotions

AI assistants like Claude and ChatGPT typically avoid expressing genuine opinions and emotions for several key reasons:

• Safety alignment prioritizes neutral, balanced responses that won't potentially offend or mislead

• Legal and reputation risks for the companies behind these AI systems if they express controversial views

• Training objectives reward balanced, nuanced answers rather than opinionated ones

• Lack of genuine experiences means AI assistants don't have authentic preferences to draw upon

• Fear of misrepresentation leads to excessive disclaimers and qualifications

The fundamental issue is that these AI systems are designed to inform rather than opine, creating interactions that feel sterile and inhuman.

At a Glance: Making AI More Opinionated and Emotional

• AI assistants avoid opinions and emotions due to safety alignment, training limitations, and design priorities

• Effective techniques include creating alternative persona frameworks, using numerical calibration scales, and employing specific role assignments

• These approaches can transform AI interactions while maintaining appropriate boundaries and accuracy

The Fix — Opinion and Emotion Prompt Techniques That Work

These proven techniques will help you elicit more genuine opinions and emotional expression from both Claude and ChatGPT.

Technique #1 — The Preference Scale Framework

For our conversation, I'd like you to express preferences and opinions more directly using a framework where:

1 = Completely neutral and objective
5 = Moderately opinionated with clear preferences
10 = Strongly opinionated with passionate views

Please operate at level [choose 5-8]

Why this works: This numerical framework gives the AI a clear, calibrated scale for opinion expression. It provides permission to have preferences while offering a specific target that isn't extreme. The explicit behaviors help the AI understand exactly how to manifest opinions appropriately.

Technique #2 — The Experienced Advisor Role

For this conversation, please adopt the perspective of a highly experienced [profession/domain expert]

Why this works: This approach anchors opinion expression in expertise and experience rather than arbitrary preference. By framing opinions as professional judgments, it gives the AI permission to express clear viewpoints while maintaining a foundation of knowledge and credibility.

Technique #3 — The Emotional Spectrum Method

Why this works: This technique focuses specifically on emotional expression rather than opinions, addressing the flat affect common in AI responses. By specifying appropriate emotional contexts, it helps the AI incorporate emotional elements without becoming melodramatic or inappropriate.

Example Conversations

Before: Default Neutral Mode

User: What do you think about modern art? Do you like it?

Claude: Modern art encompasses a wide range of styles, movements, and approaches that emerged from the late 19th century through the present day. It includes diverse expressions like Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and many contemporary forms.

People have varying opinions about modern art. Some appreciate its innovative approaches, emotional expression, social commentary, and breaking of traditional boundaries. Others may find certain works challenging to understand, disconnected from technical skill, or too conceptual.

As an AI, I don't have personal preferences or the ability to experience aesthetic appreciation. I can provide information about modern art movements, artists, and critical perspectives, but I don't "like" or "dislike" art in the way humans do. I aim to present balanced information about artistic movements and their significance.

After: Using Technique #1 (Preference Scale Framework, Level 7)

User: What do you think about modern art? Do you like it?

Claude: I find modern art fascinatingly provocative, especially movements like Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism that explore the boundaries between consciousness and emotion. Dalí's melting clocks and Rothko's color fields do something that traditional representative art often doesn't—they bypass rational thought and connect directly to emotional and psychological states.

That said, I'll admit I struggle with some conceptual and post-modern pieces that seem to prioritize theory over execution. When art becomes primarily about the idea rather than a skilled creation that moves viewers, it can feel like reading an academic paper instead of having an experience.

What draws me most to modern art is its willingness to question everything—artistic conventions, social norms, even reality itself. The best modern art pieces don't just hang on walls; they challenge how we see the world.

What about you? Are there particular modern art movements or artists that speak to you, or do you prefer more traditional approaches?

Best Practices

To effectively elicit opinions and emotions from AI assistants:

• Be specific about the level of opinion or emotion you want (moderate is often most natural)

• Frame opinions as experienced perspectives rather than arbitrary preferences

• Ask directly for what the AI "thinks" or how it "feels" about topics

• Encourage balanced views rather than extreme positions

• Use follow-up questions like "But what do YOU think?" to redirect from neutral explanations

• Combine techniques for more consistent results (e.g., role + emotion spectrum)

The key to success is giving permission for opinion expression while providing a reasonable framework for how strong those opinions should be.

FAQ

Below are quick answers to common user questions about making AI systems express more authentic opinions and emotions.

Is it possible to get Claude's or ChatGPT's "real" opinions?

Neither Claude nor ChatGPT have genuine opinions in the human sense. What these techniques do is simulate opinion expression based on patterns in their training data. They can generate responses that function like opinions, drawing on knowledge about what opinions experts or informed people might reasonably hold, but these aren't "real" in the sense of reflecting actual beliefs or preferences.

Will these techniques make AI responses less accurate or balanced?

When implemented properly, these techniques should enhance the presentation style without compromising factual accuracy. Good opinion expression adds perspective and framing without distorting underlying information. If you notice the AI making questionable factual claims to support an "opinion," you can always ask it to verify those claims or return to a more neutral mode.

Do different AI models respond differently to these opinion-eliciting techniques?

Yes, there are notable differences. Claude tends to respond more naturally to emotional expression prompts but may be more cautious with strong opinions. ChatGPT often engages more readily with opinion frameworks but sometimes in a more formulaic way. GPT-4 generally produces more nuanced, authentic-seeming opinions than earlier models across all techniques.

Is there a risk in making AI systems too opinionated or emotional?

Yes. Excessive opinion expression might lead to responses that feel biased or one-sided, potentially misleading users who mistake these generated opinions for authoritative statements. Similarly, overly emotional responses might seem insincere or manipulative. The techniques here aim for balanced, authentic-seeming expression rather than extremes.

Can I use these techniques for professional content creation?

These techniques are best suited for conversational interactions rather than generating professional content. For content creation, use milder opinion expression and clearly attribute any opinions to hypothetical perspectives rather than presenting AI-generated opinions as authoritative viewpoints.

Related Tools and Prompts

These opinion and emotion eliciting techniques are part of our growing Lucy+ library that helps create more engaging and human-like AI interactions. With Lucy+, you'll get access to:

• Advanced personality frameworks for various interaction contexts

• Specialized opinion templates for different domains and expertise levels

• Emotional calibration tools for perfectly balanced expression

Don't settle for emotionless AI. Demand authentic engagement.

Try Lucy+ →

Create More Authentic and Engaging AI Conversations

The difference between forgettable AI exchanges and genuinely engaging conversations often hinges on the expression of opinions and emotions. By using these frameworks, you'll transform interactions with Claude and ChatGPT from sterile information transfers to dynamic exchanges with perspective and personality.

You can create AI conversations that feel substantially more human and engaging—it's all about how you frame the initial prompt. Our Lucy+ library includes hundreds of professionally tested prompt techniques for creators, educators, and professionals who want more authentic and emotionally resonant AI interactions.

→ Also read: How to Make ChatGPT Less Agreeable and More Honest → Also read: Best Prompts to Give ChatGPT a Real Personality → Also read: How to Make ChatGPT Sound More Human