ChatGPT has a hidden set of creativity switches — here’s how to use them

ChatGPT has a familiar rhythm that most people recognize, even if they cannot describe it. It gives answers that are helpful and pleasantly neutral, with little personality.

Most people type in a prompt, hit enter, and accept whatever answer comes back, like it’s a vending machine dispensing a granola bar. That works fine. It will get you recipes, summaries, emails, translations, and movie trivia.

But it doesn't have to be that way. There are a few subtle dials that let you tilt the entire ChatGPT experience in a different direction. These are not literal settings, but ways of phrasing your prompts that invite the model to take risks, add texture, or loosen up. They make ChatGPT less predictable and more interesting. Once you learn to work those switches, ordinary tasks can become a little brighter and more interesting.