Google Gemini Adds Memory and Temporary Chat Features

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Key Takeaways:

Gemini’s Personal Context remembers past chats automatically so it can tailor replies based on earlier details, with settings to pause or erase memory anytime.
Temporary Chats act like a 72-hour incognito mode for quick, disposable conversations that vanish without being stored or used to train Gemini AI.
Google renamed Gemini Apps Activity to Keep Activity to make privacy controls clearer, letting you stop data logging or block audio and video sharing.
Personal Context turns on by default but is optional and can be fully disabled if you prefer not to have Gemini recall prior interactions.
Gemini now balances AI convenience with privacy safeguards by offering more opt-out options than before, narrowing the gap with ChatGPT’s personalization features.

Google is rolling out a major update to its Gemini AI app, introducing two capabilities long associated with ChatGPT: persistent memory and temporary chats. The changes aim to make Gemini more context-aware while giving users tighter control over what the system keeps and discards.

Gemini Learns to Remember Without Being Told

Previously, Gemini would only retain user preferences if explicitly instructed. The new feature, called Personal Context, allows the assistant to automatically recall key details from earlier conversations. For example, if a user mentions enjoying weekend mountain hikes, Gemini could factor that into future responses without the user having to restate it.

Google gemini adds memory and temporary chat features — Image credit google

According to Google, Personal Context is enabled by default but can be turned off under “Your past chats with Gemini” in the app’s settings. The rollout begins today for Gemini 2.5 Pro users in select regions, with 2.5 Flash support coming at a later date.

Temporary Chats Work Like Incognito Mode

For users who want a one-off conversation without leaving a trace, Temporary Chats are designed to keep exchanges out of memory and personalization systems. They also avoid contributing to Google’s AI training data. While these chats remain accessible for 72 hours in case the user wants to revisit them, they are then deleted permanently.

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Google positions this as a good option for sensitive topics, quick brainstorming sessions, or conversations outside a user’s normal use patterns.

Expanded Privacy Controls

Alongside the new features, Google is renaming its “Gemini Apps Activity” setting to Keep Activity. When enabled, the company may use samples of future file and photo uploads to improve services beginning September 2. Users who previously disabled Gemini Apps Activity will see Keep Activity remain off.

Additional privacy options now allow users to block Google from using audio, video, or screen shares from Gemini Live for product improvement. These are disabled by default. For maximum privacy, Google suggests combining Temporary Chats with a disabled Keep Activity setting.

With these changes, Gemini is adopting more of ChatGPT’s personalization strengths while offering stronger opt-outs for those concerned about long-term data retention. The balance between convenience and privacy will likely determine how widely these features are embraced.

Would you rely on an AI that remembers your preferences by default? Share your take in the comments.

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