From WIRED · David Nield · · 1m 50s
ChatGPT's memory is learning too much about you
OpenAI's chatbot now automatically remembers details about your life, and it often gets things wrong. Here's how to take back control.
In brief
OpenAI's chatbot now automatically remembers details about your life, and it often gets things wrong. Here's how to take back control. ChatGPT automatically builds a profile of you from your conversations, but you can edit or delete what it remembers through your personalization settings. Originally reported by WIRED.
ChatGPT now remembers you automatically
OpenAI's chatbot stores details from your conversations and uses them to personalize responses. It automatically decides what's important to remember without you asking.
Memory started simple, then got smarter
In April 2024, ChatGPT required you to explicitly say "remember this." By June, it switched to automatic memory that learns and updates over time without your input.
The problem: wrong assumptions stick around
ChatGPT might think you're a DIY expert because you researched light switches, or assume you live somewhere you were just visiting. These misreadings shape all its future answers to you.
See what ChatGPT thinks it knows
Open your profile settings, go to Personalization, then Memory to view ChatGPT's summary of you. It lists your interests and how you prefer answers formatted.
Edit or delete memories you don't want
Highlight any memory summary and choose "Make a correction" or "Don't mention this again." You can also type commands like "forget that I'm a journalist" to remove specific details.
Wipe everything or use temporary chats
Delete all memories by selecting the three dots and choosing Delete and turn off memory. Alternatively, use temporary chats where nothing gets saved to memory at all.
Privacy trade-off: convenience versus control
Automatic memory makes ChatGPT more useful, but you lose control over what it learns about you. Turning memory off stops it from using stored details, though it keeps them on file.
What matters most
ChatGPT automatically builds a profile of you from your conversations, but you can edit or delete what it remembers through your personalization settings.
