OpenAI’s chatbot now has more features like a personal assistant because it can remember information about ChatGPT Plus subscribers.
In February, OpenAI introduced a Memory feature that lets ChatGPT save queries, prompts, and other settings for longer. Initially, it was only accessible to a few users.
Now, it is available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers who are not in Europe or Korea.
ChatGPT’s Memory enhances personalization in two ways. First, it allows users to instruct ChatGPT to retain specific details.
Second, it improves through learning from conversations, similar to other algorithms in our apps. This feature makes ChatGPT a more effective AI assistant. Once it learns your preferences, it applies them automatically without needing reminders.
David Pierce from The Verge noted that some users might feel uncomfortable with chatbots knowing them like this.
Therefore, OpenAI has assured that users will always have control over what ChatGPT keeps and what is used for further training.
OpenAI mentioned in a blog post that ChatGPT will now notify users when memories are updated, a new feature compared to the initial test.
Memory is now available to all ChatGPT Plus users. Using Memory is easy: just start a new chat and tell ChatGPT anything you’d like it to remember.
Memory can be turned on or off in settings and is not currently available in Europe or Korea. Team, Enterprise, and GPTs to come. pic.twitter.com/mlt9vyYeMK
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) April 29, 2024
OpenAI’s examples of uses for Memory include:
- You’ve explained that you prefer meeting notes to have headlines, bullets and action items summarized at the bottom. ChatGPT remembers this and recaps meetings this way.
- You’ve told ChatGPT you own a neighborhood coffee shop. When brainstorming messaging for a social post celebrating a new location, ChatGPT knows where to start.
- You mention that you have a toddler and that she loves jellyfish. When you ask ChatGPT to help create her birthday card, it suggests a jellyfish wearing a party hat.
- As a kindergarten teacher with 25 students, you prefer 50-minute lessons with follow-up activities. ChatGPT remembers this when helping you create lesson plans.
- ChatGPT has always been able to remember details within ongoing conversations. For instance, if you ask the chatbot to write an email, you can then say “make it more professional,” and it will know you are referring to the email. However, if too much time passes or a new conversation begins, it forgets those details.
- OpenAI did not explain why the Memory feature will not be available in Europe or Korea. The company stated that Memory will be introduced to subscribers of ChatGPT Enterprise and Teams, and to custom GPTs on the GPT Store, although it did not mention a specific timeline for this rollout.
What we think?
I think the Memory feature in ChatGPT will be really useful. It’ll remember things like how I like my meeting notes or what my toddler likes.
This will make it quicker to get personalized help. But, I’m also a bit worried about privacy. Even though they say I can control it, knowing it remembers stuff might make me cautious.
It’s not available in Europe or Korea yet, which seems a bit odd.
