Google's Gemini AI Adds Automatic Memory for Personalization with Controls

TL;DR

• Gemini will automatically recall key details and preferences from past conversations when the feature is enabled. The Verge
• It is on by default, with an option to turn it off in the Gemini app under Personal Context > Your past chats with Gemini. The Verge
• Privacy settings are being renamed: Gemini Apps Activity will become Keep Activity; Keep Activity uses a sample of file and photo uploads to improve Google services starting Sept 2. The Verge
• Temporary chats exist: they won’t appear in recent chats or Keep Activity, will not be used to personalize future conversations or train models, and are saved for 72 hours. The Verge
• The rollout covers Gemini 2.5 Pro in select countries today, with broader rollout to Gemini 2.5 Flash and other locations later. The Verge

Context and background

Google has been exploring memory features to make Gemini a more personal AI assistant. Previously, Google introduced a feature that allowed users to ask Gemini to remember personal preferences and interests. The new update moves memory from a prompted action to automatic recall, tying memory to the ongoing user experience rather than a one-off request. The Verge notes that memory in AI chat systems has drawn attention from outside observers, including a New York Times discussion about cross-chat memory in ChatGPT and its potential safety concerns. Google says safeguards are continually evolving, and the company emphasizes that users should be able to control their experience. This context sits alongside broader industry conversations about how memory features affect the reliability of AI conversations and the importance of safety guardrails in personal assistants. Google’s spokesperson emphasized ongoing efforts to improve safeguards while pursuing a more capable personal AI assistant. For users, this means a repeatable, memory-informed experience that can be tuned to privacy preferences. According to The Verge, Google is incorporating memory with a focus on user control, offering a straightforward path to disable the feature if desired. The Verge also cites safety considerations raised by other players in the field, including cross-chat memory, and notes that industry players are weighing how memory features influence user trust and model behavior. The Verge

What’s new

• Automatic recall of past conversations without needing to prompt, enabling more personalized outputs as you continue to chat with Gemini. The Verge
• Default-on memory with user controls to turn it off in the Gemini app under Personal Context > Your past chats with Gemini. The Verge
• Privacy settings rename: Gemini Apps Activity becomes Keep Activity; Keep Activity will use a sample of your file and photo uploads to improve Google services starting on September 2. The Verge
• Introduction of temporary chats: these chats do not appear in recent chats, are not used to personalize future conversations, nor to train models; they are stored for 72 hours. The Verge
• Rollout plan: Gemini 2.5 Pro access in select countries begins today, with subsequent expansion to Gemini 2.5 Flash and other regions. The Verge

Why it matters (impact for developers/enterprises)

Automatic memory turns Gemini into a more proactive personal assistant, enabling tailored suggestions based on prior interactions. For developers and enterprises building on Gemini, this means new considerations around data handling, consent, and privacy controls. The default-on memory option, coupled with straightforward opt-out controls, provides a model of user-centric configurability, but it also increases the need for transparent governance around what gets remembered, how it is used, and how long it is retained. The introduction of temporary chats adds a buffer for private inquiries, helping users avoid cross-referencing sensitive topics in future sessions. Google’s framing of safeguards and the rename of privacy settings to Keep Activity underscore an evolving approach to data minimization and user control. The Verge From an enterprise perspective, the ability to tailor outputs using remembered context could improve efficiency in customer support, content ideation, and workflow automation, provided organizations implement clear policies around consent, data retention, and employee supervision. The updates also reflect ongoing industry discussions about cross-chat memory, privacy risk, and the balance between personalization and user trust, which are critical for organizations integrating AI copilots into business processes. The Verge

Technical details or Implementation

Key takeaways

• Automatic memory enhances personalization by recalling past interactions without prompts.
• Users retain control via easy opt-out settings; memory is enabled by default.
• Privacy shifts include renaming Keep Activity and introducing 72-hour temporary chats.
• The rollout is staged, starting with Gemini 2.5 Pro in select regions, then expanding. The Verge

References

• https://www.theverge.com/news/758624/google-gemini-ai-automatic-memory-privacy-update