What’s ChatGPT Memory, How to Manage What It Remembers
ChatGPT will provide the best results when you specify more details in the prompt. Instead of asking, “Best birthday party ideas for your daughter,” the results will be more personalized and useful when you ask, “Best birthday party ideas for your 11-year-old daughter who likes chocolates and dinosaurs.” The more information you provide to ChatGPT, the better the results will be.
However, repeating the same details to ChatGPT can be tiresome. This is where the Memory feature comes in. When you specify that your daughter is 11 years old in any conversation, ChatGPT will remember that and use this information when relevant.
Here are some simple examples in action:
Example 1:Me:Where did we leave off on my last project?ChatGPT:(Remembers the conversation about the last project) Provides me results to continue the work.
Example 2:Me:What are some good restaurants in Delhi for lunch?ChatGPT:(Remembers I am vegetarian and prefer pure veg restaurants)Suggests a list of pure veg restaurants for me.
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How to Manage ChatGPT’s Memory
The memory feature is currently rolling out to all users (both free and paid) and is enabled by default. You can add, update, or remove information as needed:
You can also remove information from memory from ChatGPT settings. Click on yourprofile picture > Settings > Personalization > Manage. You will see all the info ChatGPT stores and click on the Trash icon next to the information you want to delete.
How to Disable ChatGPT’s Memory
If you don’t want ChatGPT to remember any information, or provide info related to details stored in its memory, you can disable this feature. To turn it off, click on yourprofile picture > Settings > Personalizationand toggle offMemory.
Note that disabling the memory feature does not delete current memory details. you may turn the feature on later to regain access to its memory.
How to Make A Chat Without Using the Memory
If ChatGPT remembers that you like horror movies, it will consider that whenever you ask for movie recommendations. If you want to check results without being restricted by things it remembers in its memory, you don’t have to disable the feature and re-enable it. There is a way to start a chat without using the memory.
Tap on the ChatGPT option at the top and enable the toggle beside Temporary Chat. Whatever you chat about in this temporary chat will not appear in history, OpenAI will not use this chat to train its model, and you cannot use or create memories.
Memory in GPTs
GPTs are custom versions of ChatGPT that come with a set of instructions and additional knowledge. For example, some GPTs are specific to recommending books, some are good for research, and some can help you write better. You can create your custom GPT or use any GPT available in the GPTs store in the sidebar.
ChatGPT cannot remember information from your interactions when chatting with GPTs, but they have their own memory. For example, if you tell a book recommendation GPT that you like comics, it will remember that for later use. However, the GPT builder need to enable the memory feature for this to work. Otherwise, memory features won’t be available with that GPT.
Memory vs Custom Instructions
Last year, OpenAI released a feature called Custom Instructions, where you may specify what you want ChatGPT to know about you and how you want it to respond. With this feature, ChatGPT responds to all queries according to these custom instructions. Memory is a similar feature but more dynamic. It allows you to ask ChatGPT to remember specific details only when needed, rather than all the time. Both features are available and useful for various needs.
Ravi Teja KNTS
Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
