ChatGPT Updates: OpenAI Now References Past Chats

ChatGPT Gains New Memory Feature for Personalized Interactions

OpenAI announced on Thursday the commencement of a rollout for a novel memory function within ChatGPT. This enhancement enables the chatbot to customize its responses based on the history of interactions with individual users.

According to the company, this feature, designated as “reference saved memories” within ChatGPT’s settings, is designed to enhance the relevance of conversations. The update will integrate contextual understanding into ChatGPT’s capabilities for text, voice, and image generation.

Initial Availability and Regional Restrictions

The initial deployment of the new memory feature will be limited to subscribers of ChatGPT Pro and Plus. An exception applies to users located in the U.K., EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

OpenAI states that these regions necessitate supplementary external evaluations to ensure adherence to local regulatory requirements. However, the company remains dedicated to extending the technology’s availability to these areas in the future.

Currently, no timeline has been provided regarding a launch for users of the free version of ChatGPT. A spokesperson for OpenAI communicated to TechCrunch that the focus remains on deployment to paid subscription tiers.

Enhanced User Experience and Data Privacy

The primary objective of this new memory feature is to create a more natural and personalized experience with ChatGPT. Users will no longer be required to reiterate information previously disclosed during conversations.

A comparable memory function was introduced in Google’s Gemini in February. This demonstrates a growing trend towards more context-aware AI assistants.

Acknowledging potential privacy concerns, OpenAI provides an opt-out option. Users can disable the new memory feature and manage their saved memories directly within ChatGPT’s settings.

Managing Your Memory with ChatGPT

Users have the ability to inquire about what ChatGPT remembers. Alternatively, they can initiate a “Temporary Chat” for conversations that will not be saved.

Previously, OpenAI implemented an update allowing ChatGPT to forget or recall specific details upon request. However, this earlier feature relied on explicit user prompts to update the chatbot’s memory.

The current rollout aims to streamline this process, making it more intuitive and automatic.

For users who previously enabled ChatGPT’s memory capabilities, the new memory feature will be activated by default.