ChatGPT will soon remember who you are as OpenAI tests a new "Memory" capability for its generative AI service.
The new functionality will allow ChatGPT to recall user prompts and preferences across all previous chats to save time and effort for future conversations.
OpenAI's team wrote in an announcement blog:
We’re testing memory with ChatGPT. Remembering things you discuss across all chats saves you from having to repeat information and makes future conversations more helpful."
OpenAI also stresses user control — that they can dictate what precisely ChatGPT remembers and what it forgets through operating its settings.
"You're in control of ChatGPT's memory," the blog wrote. "You can explicitly tell it to remember something, ask it what it remembers, and tell it to forget conversationally or through settings. You can also turn it off entirely." To turn off Memory, users must go to "Settings", then "Personalization", then "Memory".
Memory rolls out for a "small portion" of ChatGPT Free and paying Plus subscribers this week, OpenAI says, as a trial period. The company plans to share general release plans "soon".
How 'Memory' Functions
When chatting with ChatGPT, users have the option to instruct it to remember specific information or allow it to gather details independently. With continued usage, ChatGPT's memory capabilities progressively improve, leading to palpable improvements in user experience over time.
OpenAI suggests an example of if a user prefers meeting notes to feature headlines, bullet points, and action items summarised at the bottom, then, with Memory enabled, ChatGPT would remember this and subsequently recap meetings in that format.
For users wanting a brief conversation without the Memory functionality, temporary chat offers a solution. These chats do not register in the chat history, refrain from utilising memory, and are excluded from training OpenAI's models.
OpenAI highlights the specific benefits of memory for ChatGPT Team and Enterprise subscribers. "Memory can be useful when using ChatGPT for work," the blog explained. "It can learn your style and preferences and build upon past interactions. This saves you time and leads to more relevant and insightful responses."
OpenAI proffers an example of ChatGPT remembering user tone, voice, and format preferences to automatically apply them to blog posts or email drafts without requiring repetitive prompts.
Users who want ChatGPT to forget something specific can ask it using natural language prompts. Users can view and delete particular Memories or clear all Memories in settings. ChatGPT's Memories evolve through interactions and aren't tied to individual conversations. Deleting a chat doesn't eliminate its Memories; users must delete the specific Memory.
