OpenAI has rolled out a new memory feature for its AI, ChatGPT, now available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers outside Europe and Korea. This enhanced capability allows the AI to retain information across sessions, tailoring its interactions more personally to each user.
Launched in February, the memory feature initially reached only a limited user base. However, its expansion means that paying subscribers can now benefit from a more personalised assistant that retains important details without needing a prompt. This dual-aspect memory works first by storing information you choose to share explicitly and, secondly, by gathering insights from interactions, similar to other learning algorithms used by OpenAI.
This development transforms ChatGPT from a session-based tool that forgets details once a conversation ends into a more intuitive assistant. For instance, if you instruct ChatGPT to draft an email and then ask it to revise its tone, it will remember the context without being reminded. However, previously, restarting a conversation or delaying a follow-up would erase all context.
User control and privacy considerations
Addressing potential privacy concerns, OpenAI ensures users maintain complete control over the AI’s memory. According to David Pierce from The Verge, some users might find the idea of a remembering chatbot unsettling. Responding to such concerns, OpenAI has implemented features that allow users to see what the AI remembers and even command ChatGPT to ‘forget’ certain details.
In an effort to keep users informed, OpenAI has also updated the system to notify users whenever the memory is modified. This means you can manage and review what the AI retains from your interactions. Despite these advancements, OpenAI has not specified why the memory feature is unavailable in Europe or Korea, nor has it detailed the schedule for its availability to ChatGPT Enterprise and Teams subscribers or to users of custom GPTs in the GPT Store.
This move by OpenAI enhances ChatGPT’s functionality and underscores a significant shift towards more user-focused and adaptable AI tools.
