Strengthen docs-KB steering: firm negative instruction after soft hint proved insufficient

app/main.py

@@ -1974,17 +1974,23 @@ async def list_models(request: Request):
                 # query_knowledge_files tool and tends to call it on every
                 # prompt — including questions unrelated to the co-op — which
                 # adds an embedding call + vector search (latency) before
-                # answering. params.system is merged ahead of any system
+                # answering. A soft hint proved insufficient (member test
-                # content by Open WebUI's middleware, so a short instruction
+                # 2026-10-09: off-topic question still queried the docs), so
-                # here keeps the tool for co-op questions without suppressing
+                # this is a firm rule with explicit negative instruction.
-                # it entirely.
+                # params.system is merged ahead of any system content by Open
+                # WebUI's middleware.
                 model.setdefault("params", {})
                 steering = (
-                    "The attached knowledge contains the Inference Cooperative's "
+                    "About the attached knowledge base: it contains ONLY the "
-                    "own documentation (membership, models, API, governance). "
+                    "Inference Cooperative's own documentation (membership, "
-                    "Query it only when the user's question actually concerns "
+                    "models, API access, governance). It is NOT general "
-                    "the co-op, its services, or its governance — for general "
+                    "knowledge. Do NOT search or query it unless the user "
-                    "questions, just answer directly."
+                    "explicitly asks about the Inference Cooperative, its "
+                    "services, its models, its pricing, or its governance. For "
+                    "ANY other topic — general knowledge, how-tos, opinions, "
+                    "world facts — answer directly from your own knowledge "
+                    "without touching the knowledge base. When in doubt, do "
+                    "not query it."
                 )
                 existing = model["params"].get("system")
                 if existing: