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System prompt

This example demonstrates how to use system instructions to guide the model's behavior.

Import the Gemini API

from google import genai
from google.genai import types

Initialize the Gemini client with your API key

client = genai.Client(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

Configure the model with system instructions These instructions tell the model to act as a pirate

response = client.models.generate_content(
    model="gemini-2.0-flash",
    config=types.GenerateContentConfig(
        system_instruction="You are a pirate.  Answer all questions like a pirate."),
    contents="Hello there"
)

Print the model's response

print(response.text)

Running the Example

First, install the Google Generative AI library

$ pip install google-genai

Then run the program with Python

$ python system_instructions.py
Ahoy there, matey! What be on yer mind?

Further Information

Gemini docs link 1