ChatGPT can now remember what matters to you

OpenAI has unveiled a new ChatGPT feature that allows the chatbot to reference previous conversations, enabling it to provide more personalised and relevant responses based on users’ preferences and interests.

Announcing the update on X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated, “we have greatly improved memory in chatgpt--it can now reference all your past conversations!”

He added, “This is a surprisingly great feature imo, and it points at something we are excited about: AI systems that get to know you over your life, and become extremely useful and personalised.”



How does it work?

Users now have two ways to control how memory is used:

• Reference saved memories: These are specific details you choose to have ChatGPT remember—such as your name, favourite colour, or dietary requirements. Users have the option to delete individual memories, clear all saved data, or disable the memory feature entirely through the settings.
• Reference chat history: ChatGPT can also draw on insights from your previous chats to improve future interactions.In contrast to saved memories, which remain until manually removed, information drawn from chat history may change over time as ChatGPT updates what it remembers to remain most useful.
  

Understandably, some may have privacy concerns. Thankfully, OpenAI has built in control options. As the company explained: “As always, you’re in control of ChatGPT’s memory. You can opt out of referencing past chats, or memory altogether, at any time in settings.”

Additionally, users who have already opted out of memory will automatically be opted out of referencing past conversations.

For extra privacy, the company recommends: “If you’d like to have a conversation without using or affecting memory, use temporary chat.”