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Question

How do I turn our SOPs into custom AI assistants?

Verified Oct 17, 2026 Review by Jan 15, 2027 5 sources
Short answer

Take a process that already produces a reliable result. Write its instructions, examples and checks as a system prompt, then package it as a shared assistant in your AI tool, such as a Claude project or a ChatGPT plugin. Keep the master copy in your own docs, because these features are being renamed and retired.

What it is

A custom assistant is a saved bundle of instructions, reference files and sometimes tools that your team runs like an app. It is the AI-era form of an SOP.

How it works

  1. Pick a repeatable output you already get right, such as a proposal, recap or ad brief.
  2. Write the instructions: role, inputs, steps, format and a final self-check.
  3. Attach reference files: templates, examples and brand rules.
  4. Share it with the team and name one owner.
  5. Update it centrally when the process changes.

Dan Martell’s case for this is that you update the core instructions once and everyone using the assistant gets the new version (view: Martell).

Where to build it (checked 2026-10-17). OpenAI’s help article on GPTs (checked 2026-10-17) says it plans to retire custom GPTs in favor of Plugins: retirement is planned for Dec 11, 2026 in affected Enterprise workspaces, other plans are expected to follow, and new GPTs can no longer be created on personal accounts. Claude Projects hold their own chats and knowledge and are available on all plans. Google’s Gems help page (checked 2026-10-17) says that from November 2026, Gems on personal Google accounts will move to skills.

Make it portable. Write the procedure once as an agent skill: a folder with a SKILL.md file, kept in GitHub. Agent Skills is an open format that Claude and OpenAI Codex both read. A quick adoption check for any team (IonBin’s suggestion): “Show me which of our repeat tasks are written down for AI.”

Benefits

  • Central update, distributed execution. Paper SOPs never had this.
  • Consistency across people and shifts.
  • Onboarding. New hires can run the assistant on day one.

Limits and risks

  • Garbage in. Codifying a weak process scales the weakness. Fix the process first.
  • Vendor lock-in. Assistants don’t move between vendors, or always between product versions. Keep the source instructions in your own docs, for example in Notion.
  • Features move. Plan for migrations: test the replacement before switching, and review who can access it.

Checked specs

Snapshot from official sources on Oct 17, 2026.

Martell on custom GPTs (video transcript)Update the core instructions once and everyone using it gets the new version [1]
Custom GPTs (checked 2026-10-17)OpenAI plans to retire custom GPTs in favor of Plugins; Enterprise retirement planned Dec 11, 2026, other plans to follow; no new GPTs on personal accounts [2]
Claude ProjectsWorkspaces with their own chats and knowledge; available to all users, free accounts up to five [3]
Gemini GemsMoving to skills on personal Google accounts from November 2026 [4]

Best-fit stacks

Agent compatibility

Tool in this entryHow agents connect
ChatGPT Agent platform API/CLIBulk import
Claude Agent platform API/CLIBulk import
Gemini (Google) Agent platform API/CLIBulk import
Notion MCPAPI/CLIBulk import

Levels come from each tool's recorded, sourced compatibility. How the levels work.

Sources

  1. How to Get Ahead of 99% of People (with AI), custom GPTs section (from 16:29) · Dan MartellPractitioner view accessed Oct 17, 2026
  2. GPTs in ChatGPT (help article) · OpenAIofficial accessed Oct 17, 2026
  3. What are projects? · Anthropicofficial accessed Oct 17, 2026
  4. Use Gems in Gemini Apps · Googleofficial accessed Oct 17, 2026
  5. Agent Skills specification · Agent Skillsofficial accessed Oct 17, 2026

Practitioner views are restated in our words and labeled as views, not measured results. Product facts come from official sources dated above.

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