OpenAI has introduced an upgraded memory feature for ChatGPT, enabling the AI to recall user preferences and past conversations, a move that signals a major step toward more personalized and intuitive AI interactions.
Announcing the update on Thursday via X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described the new capability as “surprisingly great” and hinted at its long-term potential. “We have greatly improved memory in ChatGPT—it can now reference all your past conversations!” Altman wrote. “This is a surprisingly great feature imo, and it points at something we are excited about: AI systems that get to know you over your life, and become extremely useful and personalized.”
The feature is currently being rolled out to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, although OpenAI has not specified when it will become available to those on the free tier.
The enhanced memory marks a shift in how users interact with ChatGPT, allowing for deeper context and continuity over time. It builds on OpenAI’s earlier efforts from 2024, when users were first given the ability to manually instruct ChatGPT to remember or forget particular details.
Despite its promise, the rollout is limited by data privacy regulations. OpenAI confirmed that the memory feature will not be available in the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, citing regulatory restrictions in those regions.
This latest development comes amid rising competition in the AI space, with Google launching a similar memory function for its Gemini chatbot in February. The trend suggests a broader industry focus on building AI tools that evolve with users, providing increasingly relevant and contextual support.
As AI continues to move toward long-term utility and relationship-based functionality, OpenAI’s memory update marks a significant milestone in shaping how users engage with intelligent systems across time.
