ChatGPT’s latest update enables the chatbot to reference all past conversations, making it a more effective personal assistant by providing more personalized and contextualized responses.
The update builds on the original memory feature that allowed ChatGPT to remember basic user information, such as profession, pets, and preferences. The new feature expands this capability, enabling the chatbot to recall previous conversations and use that information to inform its responses. This means that users can have more seamless and contextualized interactions with ChatGPT, without needing to repeat information.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted the feature as part of the company’s vision for AI systems that become highly personalized and useful over time. He shared on X that the feature is “surprisingly great” and “points at something we are excited about: AI systems that get to know you over your life, and become extremely useful and personalized.” For example, users can ask follow-up questions referencing previous conversations, and ChatGPT will recall the details previously shared.
To address privacy concerns, OpenAI allows users to opt out of the memory feature or disable it for specific conversations using “Temporary Chat.” This feature is similar to Incognito mode and prevents those conversations from being saved in ChatGPT’s memory. However, it also prevents the chatbot from using previous memories during the chat.
The update is currently rolling out to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, with access for Team, Enterprise, and Edu users expected in a few weeks. Users who previously opted out of the memory feature will automatically be opted out of referencing past chats. Users will know they have access when they see a pop-up on their screen when they visit ChatGPT.
