General LLM Tips

A few general tips for getting better, more consistent results from any AI chat model. These aren't tied to any one app, just things that tend to help. Results vary by model, settings, and how you chat.

1. "Memory" Isn't One Thing

AI models have a few different kinds of memory, and each does a different job:

• Short-term context is the recent conversation the model can see. It's what keeps a scene or topic coherent from one message to the next.
• Long-term memory is older material that the model pulls back in when it seems relevant. It won't surface every time.
• Journals or saved notes are facts you choose to lock in so they don't get lost.

The most common mistake is expecting one of these to do another one's job. A journal entry won't fix short-term context, and short-term context won't hold something from a year ago. Match the tool to what you actually need.

2. The Model Only Knows What's In Front of It

A model doesn't remember the way a person does. In any given message, it works from what's currently in its context: recent messages plus whatever memory got pulled in. If a detail isn't there, the model can't reliably use it, even if you mentioned it earlier. Recent and clearly stated beats old and buried, every time.

In addition, sometimes the context IS in front of the model, but the model refuses to pay attention to it. This can result in what appears to be bad memory, but LLMs sometimes have bouts of blindness to what is in front of them. Regenerate or suggest to prod the LLM to remember, and these cases often fix on their own.

3. Lock In What You Can't Afford to Lose

If a fact matters (a name, a relationship, a key event, a preference), don't trust it to ordinary chat history. Put it somewhere persistent: a journal entry, a saved memory, or the backstory. Casual mentions from 200 messages ago fade out of context. Things you deliberately save stick around.

4. Be Specific, or It Guesses

When you're vague, the model guesses to fill the gap, and that's where many "hallucinations" come from. The fix is a concrete detail. Instead of "we talked about the trip," say "remember the Tokyo trip we planned for October." Tighter input gives you tighter, more accurate output.

5. Don't Whiplash the Scene

If you change the scene, location, or situation very fast, the model can lose track of what's currently true and carry over details that no longer fit. Jumping from a bedroom to a spaceship to a beach in three quick messages is a good way to get contradictions. After a big jump, take a beat and restate where things stand. It re-grounds the model.

6. Creativity Settings Are a Tradeoff

Settings that control randomness (often called temperature, dynamism, or creativity) trade consistency for variety. Higher means more creative and surprising, but also more likely to drift, contradict, or invent. Lower means steadier and more on track, but it can feel repetitive. There's no single right value. Pick based on what you want from that conversation, and adjust if it feels off.

7. Different Versions, Different Strengths

There's rarely one best model. One version may feel warmer but forget more. Another may recall well but repeat it. An older version may handle memory differently than a newer one. None of that is a bug; it's the tradeoff each version was tuned for. Try a few and match the model to what matters most for that chat.

8. If It Loops, Change Something

When a model gets stuck repeating itself, it usually needs a nudge out of the rut. Reword your message, introduce a new direction or detail, or adjust your variety setting. Sending the same prompt again tends to get you the same kind of answer.

9. Backstory Isn't Free

Context is limited, and a giant wall of backstory eats into the room the model has for the actual conversation. A tight, well-organized backstory usually beats a long one. Lead with what matters most and trim the filler. Quality and order beat raw length.

10. One Bad Reply Isn't Permanent. Regenerate.

These models are probabilistic, so the same setup can produce different outputs. If a response is off, contradicts something, or misses the mark, regenerate it. A single bad message isn't a permanent state of the character or the chat; it's just one roll of the dice.