The System Prompt is Down
Why are AI system prompts being treated like digital gold, leaked and protected like user passwords? What’s the real difference between a system prompt and a user prompt?
A system prompt acts like a hidden constitution: it defines the AI’s behavior, personality, and constraints across all conversations. In contrast, user prompts are the dynamic, moment to moment instructions we give, ephemeral and ever changing.
System prompts are the result of extensive R&D investment. They codify competitive advantage, encapsulate proprietary business logic, and increasingly represent a company’s core intellectual property.
So it’s not surprising that system prompts have become valuable targets. We’ve already seen system prompt leaks from ChatGPT and Claude. Additionally, Cursor’s system prompt was leaked, revealing its internal instructions. And Perplexity AI’s system prompt was exposed through prompt injection techniques.
For AI companies, protecting these prompts will require not just better technical defenses but also new legal frameworks specifically addressing the theft of prompt designs.
For users, this is a reminder: AI models aren’t neutral or purely spontaneous. Every impressive output you see is shaped by a deliberately engineered system prompt, an invisible layer that’s becoming one of the most valuable assets in the AI industry.
Sources:
www.geeky-gadgets.com/cursor-sy…
Chrome Covet
No fewer than three companies: Yahoo (yes, you read that right), OpenAI, and Perplexity have each been reported by The Verge as being interested in acquiring Google Chrome should the need to sell become reality.
The interest from these three in acquiring Chrome represents quite the convergence of business strategy and the result of the DOJ antitrust remedy. All three companies recognize Chrome’s immense value as a distribution channel and see its acquisition as a potential shortcut to challenging Google’s search dominance.
But each company has its own unique motivations too:
Yahoo is focused on boosting its search engine’s market share and sees Chrome as a means to that end.
OpenAI is interested in enhancing its AI models’ capabilities through better access to search data, viewing Chrome as a tool to diversify data sources (outside of Bing).
Perplexity aims to overcome distribution challenges posed by Google’s existing agreements and is cautious about the broader implications of such an acquisition.
For its part, Google has strongly opposed the potential divestiture, arguing that it would be disruptive and damage the browser’s functionality, while also maintaining plans to appeal the decision.
Sources: lnkd.in/eS4HC3QC
I think Macworld ‘s Macalope meant “slap MacOS on the iPad and call it a day”. But I’m not 100% sure the way it’s written. 🤷🏼♂️
Tampa Bay’s COL advantage has largely evaporated. The in-migration trend took a hit in 2024, with 24k fewer movers than 2023. Rising insurance costs, hurricane fears, and RTO are all to blame. The area is losing its edge. But maybe at least the traffic will improve.
The color "Olo"
A top restaurant SaaS company AND a new color? Yes: Olo.
As someone building software, I find this stuff pretty cool. And this is just a bonkers coincidence. This week’s mind-blowing discovery is that a team of scientists has enabled five people to see a color no human has ever seen before: a vivid, pure, almost electric blue-green dubbed “olo.”
This is the result of a new system called the Oz Vision System, which uses ultraprecise, eye safe lasers(!) to stimulate a very specific set of photoreceptor cells in the retina without triggering their overlapping neighbors (which natural light can NOT do).
“Olo” is more than just a pretty color. It’s proof that our brains can perceive colors outside the known visual spectrum if given the right stimulation. Test subjects couldn’t match it with any known color unless significant white light was added. It’s basically a brand new color.
I also love how “olo” the color is pretty close to Olo’s own branding colors. Delicious.
Save the planet: be a jerk
Sam Altman mentioned that our collective politeness to ChatGPT is costing OpenAI “tens of millions of dollars” in additional computing resources. Every time we add “please” or “thank you” to our prompts, we’re increasing server load and electricity consumption.
Jeff Bridges Abides
Saw something interesting today about the beloved cult classic “The Big Lebowski.” Jeff Bridges recently revealed at an LA screening that he’s genuinely interested in bringing The Dude back to our screens. He mentioned that Julianne Moore shares his enthusiasm, and they’ve apparently discussed sequel possibilities.
But as much as Bridges would love to don that cardigan again (and who wouldn’t want to see it?), he’s realistic about the chances. The Coen brothers aren’t typically sequel-minded filmmakers. Though Bridges left the door open, saying “If they called me up and said, ‘Hey let’s do it again,’ I’d say, ‘Absolutely, come on.'” That’s about as straightforward as it gets. Far out.
The unsuccessful spinoff “The Jesus Rolls” hasn’t helped the case for revisiting this universe. John Turturro’s attempt at a spinoff landed with a thud. Still, there’s something comforting about knowing that 25+ years later, the cast remains so attached to these characters that they’d jump at the chance to return. The Dude continues to abide, even if only in our collective cinematic memory.
Source: www.newsweek.com/entertain…
Sparkling mineral water with no bubbles
Borrowed from TikTok:
Diner: So this is still-water?
Server: Mm-hmm.
Diner: And I ordered sparkling mineral water with no bubbles.
Server: I see.
Diner: So you understand why I’m furious, right? I mean, this could be tap water. What if I drank tap water?
Server: It would have been a catastrophe-
Diner: A catastrophe at best! You know, I was so furious I had to have Samuel hold my butter knife.
Samuel: Say the word, sir.
Server: The word? The word for what?
Diner: Oh, yeah, it doesn’t matter. We have a secret code no one can break. Anyway, look, the point is I just don’t want to go Super Saiyan on this place before enjoying my plate of unpasteurized butter. Do you understand?
Server: Absolutely. I’ll tell you what. I’m just gonna go, and I’ll get you new water, and I’ll kill the servant who gave that to you, okay?
Diner: I mean, if it wouldn’t be too much to ask, I’d really appreciate it.
