Google Gemini Introduces Advanced Memory Feature to Personalise AI Conversations
Google has announced a new Gemini memory feature called Personal Context that allows the AI chatbot to automatically learn
Google has announced a new Gemini memory feature called Personal Context that allows the AI chatbot to automatically learn user preferences and deliver more personalised responses over time.
The Gemini personalisation function expands upon an update Google introduced in February that allowed Gemini to remember past conversations. The new feature means users no longer need to prompt Gemini to recall information from previous chats.
How Personal Context Works
“The Gemini app can now reference your past chats to learn your preferences, delivering more personalised responses the more you use it,” said Gemini app senior director Michael Siliski in a blog post.
The Gemini memory feature works by remembering preferences users share and incorporating them into future responses. For example, Google says if you tell Gemini about your favourite comic book and later ask it to help plan a themed birthday party, it may recommend that comic book as a theme and help with themed food and party game ideas.
Previously, users had to ask Gemini to specifically reference older chats to access that information, and sometimes it would be unable to do so. Now, Gemini continuously learns and responds without direct prompting.
Privacy Controls Available
Users can disable the Gemini personalisation function by going to Settings in the Gemini app and toggling off the features under “Personal Context” or “Your past chats with Gemini.”
Google is also introducing “Temporary Chats” for conversations users don’t want saved. These won’t appear in recent chats, won’t be used to personalise future conversations, and won’t be used by Google to train AI models. Google will only save these conversations for 72 hours.
Data Usage Changes
In the coming weeks, Google will rename its “Gemini Apps Activity” setting to “Keep Activity.” Starting September 2nd, when this option is enabled, Google will use “a sample” of file and photo uploads to Gemini to “help improve Google services for everyone.” The “Keep Activity” setting will remain switched off if users have already disabled the “Gemini Apps Activity” setting.
Rollout and Availability
Google is rolling out the Gemini memory feature starting today and expects the full rollout to take a couple of weeks. It will only be available in Gemini 2.5 Pro in select countries initially, with plans to expand to Gemini 2.5 Flash and other countries in the coming weeks.
The feature will be turned on by default, but users can disable it at any time through the app settings.
Competitive Context
The new Gemini personalisation function keeps Gemini ahead of Anthropic, which released its own chat memory function a couple of days ago for its Claude chatbot. Claude’s memory works the way Gemini’s used to, where users have to specifically ask Claude to reference old chats and apply that knowledge to new conversations.
Other AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and xAI’s Grok also offer forms of memory, allowing users to refer to older conversations or save information for future reference.
Safety Considerations
A recent New York Times article connected ChatGPT’s introduction of cross-chat memory in April to an increase in reports of “delusional” chats. Last week, OpenAI said it was working on more safety guardrails to detect mental or emotional distress.
When asked about this issue, Google spokesperson Elijah Lawal said Google is “constantly” trying to improve its safeguards. “Our focus has been building a personal AI assistant, and Gemini learning your preferences is key to this,” Lawal said. “Equally crucial is giving you easy controls to choose the experience that’s best for you, so you can turn this feature on and off at any time.”
Source: The Verge
