When using tools and abilities in your AI assistant (like booking appointments, updating user details, or triggering workflows), your prompt setup is critical for reliability and accuracy. Here’s how to get it right every time.
In your main prompt, explicitly include the tool name for every tool you’ve enabled in the “Tools & Abilities” section.
Format: Use underscores for spaces.
Example: If using “Update User Details,” write update_user_details in your prompt.
For booking: Use book_appointment.
This helps the AI reliably identify when to call the right tool, especially in voice and chat scenarios.
Tip: Even if some tools might work without being mentioned (like “get user calendar events”), it’s best practice to list all tool names in your prompt for consistency across all channels.
Add context and instructions in your prompt explaining:
When the tool should be used
What the tool does
Example:
“When a user shares or updates their email, use update_user_details to save the new email address.”
For booking:
“...and book the appointment using the tool book_appointment.
Pro Tip: Clear, specific prompting makes your AI more predictable and reduces errors or missed actions.
Without explicitly mentioning tools and describing their usage, your AI is not as reliable in triggering the right actions, leading to failed bookings or missing updates.
Proper prompt structure boosts consistency, especially as you scale up your assistant’s features.