Rules for picking the higher-ranking instruction when AI orders clash.
Instruction Hierarchy is a school rule chain. A ketchup note from lunch cannot cancel the principal's rule.
It tells the AI whose order wins. You meet it in chatbots and AI agents to block prompt injection.
System prompt
The system prompt sits at the top of the instruction chain.
Prompt injection
Instruction hierarchy keeps low-level text from overruling high-level rules.
Agent Security
Instruction hierarchy gives an agent a clear chain of command.