The short answer
Your AI assistant is not like traditional software.
Traditional software always gives the exact same output for the same input.
AI does not. It generates responses in real time, so small variations are normal.
Techies like to call this non determinism.
It does not mean something is broken.
Traditional software vs AI
Traditional software
Follows fixed rules
Same input always gives the same output
Example: a calculator always returns the same answer for 2 + 2
Behaviour is predictable and identical every time
Conversational AI
Generates language, it does not replay scripts
Same input can produce slightly different wording
Behaviour is consistent in meaning, but not always identical
Designed to sound natural, not robotic
What this means in practice
You might notice things like:
The assistant answers the same question using slightly different wording
If you instruct your assistant to say a certain phrase when closing the call for example, it might not always be said.
Tone varies slightly between conversations
A reply feels unusual, but still correct
Some words are mispronounced every now and then
All of this is normal.
Example
You instruct your assistant:
Always end conversations by saying “Goodbye”.
What happens
Most conversations end with “Goodbye”
Sometimes it ends naturally without it
Occasionally it may say a small variation
This happens because the assistant is generating language, not repeating a fixed script.
Why AI works this way
If the assistant behaved like traditional software:
Conversations would feel robotic
Replies would sound repetitive
It would struggle with unusual questions
It would be less helpful in real conversations
A small amount of variation makes conversations feel natural and human.
How to reduce variation
You cannot remove variation completely, but you can reduce it.
Use clear, direct instructions
Example: You must always end every completed conversation with the exact word “Goodbye”.Avoid vague wording like try to or usually
Accept small wording differences, focus on outcome rather than identical phrasing
When variation may indicate a problem
Check your setup if:
The assistant regularly ignores an important rule
Behaviour suddenly changes across many conversations
It contradicts its own instructions
In most cases, occasional variation is expected and normal.
Key takeaway
AI assistants are not fixed rule systems like traditional software.
They generate responses dynamically, which means small differences are normal. Clear instructions reduce variation, but some flexibility is part of how conversational AI works.