Two Lines of Instruction Are Enough AI Finishes the Job When Rules Are in the Repository

Claude Code, an AI tool, was given specific instructions to create a short vertical video. The instructions were as follows:

1. Change the initial screen display to Option A 50% / Option B 50%

2. Make the kettle bigger than its current size

3. Do not draw corporate logos

4. Do not depict real people photorealistically

5. Keep character sizes and positioning unchanged

6. Limit generation to 3 clips at most

However, the client stopped the process and preferred a simpler approach: provide a script, specify the video dimensions, and let the AI handle the rest. The AI was given a short script and a 1080x1920 video dimension. It was also instructed to review the finished product as an image and make any necessary adjustments.

The AI completed the video and the creator made several corrections, including adjusting the swollen hand position, fixing the overlapping heading, and ensuring subtitles appeared in the final frame. The AI's corrections were due to oversight in the initial instructions.

The client asked if a caricature was specified, to which the creator replied that it was not. The AI ended up creating a portrait without any logos or real people because these details were not mentioned in the minimal instructions given. The AI focused on the specified tasks and left out any items not clearly stated in the instructions.

The creator realized that providing detailed instructions leads to the AI ignoring other important aspects. By keeping instructions concise, the AI can focus on its specified tasks. Detailed rules and conventions should be documented, with the instructions only specifying what needs to be done and where to do it. The process of creating a portrait, including deciding on the appearance without using the character's name and selecting the best candidate, requires a separate procedure in the documentation.