OpenAI shares prompting tips for GPT-6 Astra including a blocklist of slop words
OpenAI just shipped a prompting playbook for GPT-6 Astra—developers who want the model to actually take initiative instead of hedging need to read this.
Why it matters
OpenAI is publishing actionable guidance on how to use GPT-6 Astra effectively, including anti-patterns (a blocklist of 'slop' phrases) and techniques to reduce over-testing—practical knowledge that changes how developers will prompt the model in production.
The key facts
10 to knowOpenAI published a detailed prompting guide for GPT-6 Astra
Guide includes blocklist of AI 'slop' phrases to avoid
Guidance on how to make the model take more initiative
Techniques to reduce over-testing behavior in code generation
Published on The Decoder (Sep 5, 2026)
GPT-6 Astra prompting guide published by OpenAI
Guidance on increasing model initiative/autonomy in prompts
Blocklist of 'slop words' to avoid AI-generated phrase filler
Techniques to prevent overtesting/over-validation in code generation
Suggests developer-facing best practices are now more structured
Go to the source
The Decoderthe-decoder.com
Publisher excerpt: OpenAI ships a detailed prompting guide for GPT-6 Astra that shows developers how to make the model take more initiative, avoid AI "slop" phrases, and stop it from overtesting code.