Google rolled out a brand new AI feature for its on Tuesday Twin products that some users are sure to enjoy. Gemini can now save memories about you to provide better responses and help, just like ChatGPT does. The feature is called “Saved Info” versus “Memory” for ChatGPT, but it works the same way.
Also, like OpenAI, Googling will not make the memory feature available to Gemini users on the free tier. You’ll need a Gemini Advanced subscription, which is the equivalent of ChatGPT Plus and costs $20.
Unlike OpenAI, Google also offers cloud storage with your paid Advanced membership, and plenty of it. You subscribe to the most expensive Google One tier, which includes Google Advanced access.
Googling announced the feature on X and posted additional details about the Saved Info feature on the Gemini Updates page.
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Starting today, you can ask Gemini Advanced to remember your interests and preferences for more useful, relevant responses. Easily view, edit, or delete any information you’ve shared and see when it’s being used.
Try it in Gemini Advanced → pic.twitter.com/gR354OZxnV
— Google Gemini App (@GeminiApp) November 19, 2024
Before dropping the memory feature, OpenAI launched Custom Instructions for ChatGPT, a way for users to customize how the chatbot works. This was the first version of a memory feature, as you could tell ChatGPT to remember information about you before formulating the answer.
The Memory feature builds on this, allowing ChatGPT to store further information about you as you see fit. This reduces the need to repeat the same set of instructions for similar questions.
That’s how Gemini’s Saved Info feature will work. Google explains:
Starting today, you can ask Gemini to remember your interests and preferences, whether it’s about your work, your hobbies or your general ambitions in life. This allows Gemini to provide even more helpful and relevant answers, tailored exactly to your needs. Think of it as giving Gemini a user manual designed by you. You can share and manage information stored with Gemini through a natural conversation or on the dedicated ‘Stored Information’ page. You’re in control: Easily view, edit, or delete any information you’ve shared with Gemini, and Gemini will show up when it uses your saved information. Decide how you want Gemini to communicate with you, and it will adapt accordingly, giving you full control over the information it stores and uses. The experience is available in English with Gemini Advanced as part of the Google One AI Premium Plan.
Like ChatGPT, you can add and remove Gemini reminders. To do this, you’ll want to go to Stored information on your Gemini page.
This supporting document will also help you understand how Stored Information works. Google explains here, among other things, that Gemini Advanced will tell you that it used stored information to generate a response by listing a “Your Stored Information” section in the “Resources and Related Content” section.
Regarding data privacy for Gemini memories, Google say that stored information remains in memory until you delete it.
Depending on how you have set your Gemini privacy settings, some of your stored information will be part of the Gemini conversations that Google stores and reviews. Information about this can be found on the same support page. You’ll want to disable Gemini Apps activity to prevent Google employees from reviewing conversations or training future models with your data. But that’s up to you.