Google Gemini Adds Memory and Privacy Features

In a recent announcement, Google revealed several significant updates for its Gemini AI chatbot, introducing features that bring it up to speed with competitors like ChatGPT. The new capabilities, available to all users including those on the free tier, focus on providing more personalized interactions and greater user control over data privacy.

While the race to develop more powerful AI models continues, these user-experience enhancements are often the most impactful updates. Let's explore what's new with Gemini and how you can use these features.

Get More Personalized Responses with Chat Memory

Crafting the perfect AI prompt often requires providing extensive context, which can become repetitive, especially for ongoing projects. To address this, Gemini can now reference your past conversations to build a memory of your preferences and details over time.

For instance, if you mention in one chat that you own a 15-pound Yorkie, you can later ask Gemini for dog toy recommendations without needing to specify your dog's size and breed again. The AI will automatically recall the previous context to give you a tailored answer. This functionality is very similar to ChatGPT's Memory feature and a similar capability recently added to Anthropic's Claude.

The feature is on by default and will be rolling out over the next few weeks, starting with the 2.5 Pro model. If you prefer Gemini not to remember your chats, you can easily disable this in your settings by navigating to "Settings," then "Personal context," and toggling off "Your past chats with Gemini."

Chat Privately with the New Temporary Chat Mode

For conversations you'd rather keep private, Gemini now includes a Temporary Chat mode. This feature, a fan-favorite for privacy-conscious users of ChatGPT, works much like the Incognito mode in a web browser.

When you activate Temporary Chat, your conversation will not be saved to your Gemini Apps Activity or recent chats. This means the information won't be used to personalize your future experience or to train Google's AI models. It provides a valuable layer of privacy for sensitive queries. This feature is also rolling out to all users in the coming weeks.

Take Control of Your Data with New Settings

Google is also updating its data control settings to provide more transparency. The setting previously known as "Gemini Apps Activity" will soon be renamed to "Keep Activity."

If this setting is enabled, Google will use a sample of your conversations and uploads (starting September 2) to improve its services. For users who prioritize privacy, it's crucial to review this setting. You can turn it off to prevent your data from being used for training, or simply use the new Temporary Chat for sensitive discussions. If your "Gemini Apps Activity" is already turned off, it will remain off after the name change.

For detailed instructions on managing this setting, you can consult Google's step-by-step guide. Taking a moment to check your settings now is a wise step for anyone concerned about how their data is used.