OpenAI ChatGPT fully opens Memory feature

OpenAI announced the Memory feature in February, which allows ChatGPT to store queries, prompts, and other custom content for a longer period of time. Initially, this feature was only available to a "limited" number of users, but now it is fully available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers outside of Europe and South Korea.

The Memory feature of ChatGPT works in two ways, making the responses of the chatbot more personalized. One way is that you can tell ChatGPT to remember certain details, and the other way is that it can learn from similar conversations like algorithms in other applications. The Memory feature brings ChatGPT closer to being an excellent AI assistant. Once it remembers your preferences, it can automatically include them without you having to remind it repeatedly.

As pointed out by David Pierce of The Verge, some users may feel uncomfortable if the chatbot understands them in such a deep way. Therefore, OpenAI states that users will always have full control over the retained content of ChatGPT (as well as the content used for additional training).

In a blog post, OpenAI mentioned that ChatGPT will now notify users when updating its memory, compared to previous tests. Users can manage ChatGPT's memory by viewing the content extracted from the conversation, and even make ChatGPT "forget" unnecessary details.

Examples of using OpenAI's Memory feature include:

• You tell ChatGPT that you prefer meeting notes with titles, key points, and action items summarized at the bottom. ChatGPT will remember this and summarize meetings in this way for you.

• You disclose to ChatGPT that you own a community café. When you want to brainstorm social media posts to celebrate a new location, ChatGPT knows how to approach it.

• You mention that you have a toddler who just started walking and she loves jellyfish. When you ask ChatGPT for help in making her birthday card, it suggests drawing a jellyfish wearing a party hat.

• As a kindergarten teacher with 25 students, you prefer a 50-minute lesson followed by an activity. When ChatGPT helps you plan the curriculum, it will remember this preference.

ChatGPT can always recall details in an active conversation; for example, if you ask the chatbot to draft an email, you can immediately follow up with "make it more professional," and it will remember that you are discussing that email. However, if you wait long enough or start a new conversation, all of these memories will disappear.

OpenAI did not explain why the Memory feature is not available in Europe or South Korea. The company states that the Memory feature will be introduced to subscribers of ChatGPT Enterprise and Teams, as well as custom GPTs on the GPT store, but the specific release date has not been announced.