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j"19HxigV4QyBv3tHpQVcUEQyq1pzZVdoAutM_&Title: Who Controls the Conversation? User Perspectives On Generative AI (LLM) System Prompts URL Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.00089 Markdown Content: [2603.00089] Who Controls the Conversation? User Perspectives On Generative AI (LLM) System Prompts =============== [Skip to main content](https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.00089#content) [](https://www.cornell.edu/) We gratefully acknowledge support from the Simons Foundation, [member institutions](https://info.arxiv.org/about/ourmembers.html), and all contributors.[Donate](https://info.arxiv.org/about/donate.html) [](https://arxiv.org/IgnoreMe) [](https://arxiv.org/)>[cs](https://arxiv.org/list/cs/recent)> arXiv:2603.00089 [Help](https://info.arxiv.org/help) | [Advanced Search](https://arxiv.org/search/advanced) Search [](https://arxiv.org/) [](https://www.cornell.edu/) GO quick links ----------- * [Login](https://arxiv.org/login) * [Help Pages](https://info.arxiv.org/help) * [About](https://info.arxiv.org/about) Computer Science > Computers and Society ======================================== **arXiv:2603.00089** (cs) [Submitted on 16 Feb 2026] Title:Who Controls the Conversation? User Perspectives On Generative AI (LLM) System Prompts ============================================================================================ Authors:[Anna Neumann](https://arxiv.org/search/cs?searchtype=author&query=Neumann,+A), [Yulu Pi](https://arxiv.org/search/cs?searchtype=author&query=Pi,+Y), [Jatinder Singh](https://arxiv.org/search/cs?searchtype=author&query=Singh,+J) View a PDF of the paper titled Who Controls the Conversation? User Perspectives On Generative AI (LLM) System Prompts, by Anna Neumann and 2 other authors [View PDF](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2603.00089)[HTML (experimental)](https://arxiv.org/html/2603.00089v1) > Abstract:System prompts - instructions that shape the behaviour of generative AI systems - strongly influence system outputs and users' experiences. They define the model's guidelines, `personality', and guardrails, taking precedence over user inputs. Despite their influence, transparency is limited: system prompts are generally not made public and most platforms instruct models to conceal them, leaving users disconnected from and unaware of a key mechanism guiding and governing their AI interactions. > > This paper argues that system prompts warrant explicit, user-centred design attention and, focusing on large language models (LLMs), asks: what do system prompts contain, how do end-users perceive them, and what do these perceptions offer for design and governance practice? > > Our results reveal user perspectives on: the benefits and risks of system prompts; the values they prefer to be associated with prompt-design; their levels of comfort with different types of prompts; and degrees of transparency and user control regarding prompt content. From these findings emerge considerations for how designers can better align system prompt mechanisms with user expectations and preferences over these mechanisms that directly shape how generative AI systems behave. Comments:Accepted to CHI 2026 Paper Track Subjects:Computers and Society (cs.CY) Cite as:[arXiv:2603.00089](https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.00089) [cs.CY] (or [arXiv:2603.00089v1](https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.00089v1) [cs.CY] for this version) [https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2603.00089](https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2603.00089) Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite Related DOI:[https://doi.org/10.1145/3772318.3791726](https://doi.org/10.1145/3772318.3791726) Focus to learn more DOI(s) linking to related resources Submission history ------------------ From: Anna Neumann [[view email](https://arxiv.org/show-email/6954b22a/2603.00089)] **[v1]** Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:59:30 UTC (3,588 KB) [](https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.00089)Full-text links: Access Paper: ------------- View a PDF of the paper titled Who Controls the Conversation? 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