Google Gemini Adds Chat Personalization, Lags Behind Rivals in Memory
▼ Summary
– Google is adding customization and personalization features to Gemini, allowing it to learn from past conversations for tailored responses, but lags behind competitors like Anthropic and OpenAI.
– Personalization in chatbots is crucial for enterprise users, as it helps retain preferences like company branding or voice for ongoing projects.
– Google’s rollout is gradual, with “Personal Context” defaulting on for Gemini 2.5 Pro, but users cannot edit or delete preferences like in rival platforms.
– New features include Temporary Chat (non-influential one-off conversations) and expanded data controls, letting users opt out of model training with their data.
– Memory and personalization are key battlegrounds in AI, with competitors already offering features like referencing past conversations without user prompts.
Google’s Gemini is stepping up its personalization game, though it still trails behind rivals like Anthropic and OpenAI in memory capabilities. The tech giant recently introduced new customization features, giving users more control over how the AI references past interactions. While these updates mark progress, they highlight Google’s slower pace in rolling out functionalities that competitors have offered for months.
The latest upgrade, “Personal Context,” is now a default setting for Gemini 2.5 Pro in select regions. This feature allows the AI to learn from previous conversations, delivering responses tailored to individual preferences. Google plans to extend this functionality to Gemini 2.5 Flash soon. Unlike earlier versions, where users had to manually reference past chats, the system now automatically incorporates historical context. However, unlike competing platforms, Gemini doesn’t yet let users edit or delete stored preferences.
Michael Siliski, Google’s senior director of Product Management for Gemini, emphasized the company’s vision for a more intuitive AI assistant. “We’re building an AI that truly understands you, not just one that responds generically,” he noted in a recent blog post. Currently, Gemini retains chat data for up to 72 hours unless manually saved, with auto-deletion options set at three, 18, or 36 months.
Alongside personalization, Google is rolling out Temporary Chat, a feature already available in ChatGPT since last year. This lets users engage in one-off conversations that don’t influence future interactions or model training. Additionally, enhanced data controls allow users to opt out of sharing their inputs for improving Google’s AI services. These settings, disabled by default, provide more transparency over how data is utilized.
Despite these advancements, Google remains behind in memory functionality. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, for instance, can recall all past conversations without user prompts, while Anthropic’s Claude now references entire chat histories by default. Gemini, by contrast, still requires explicit cues to pull from prior discussions.
As AI assistants evolve, memory and personalization have become critical differentiators. Businesses and individual users increasingly expect these tools to retain context seamlessly, reducing repetitive inputs. While Google’s updates signal progress, catching up to rivals in this fast-moving space will require faster innovation. For now, enterprises weighing AI solutions must consider whether Gemini’s gradual improvements align with their need for instant, intuitive interactions.
(Source: VentureBeat)
