Understanding ChatGPT's "Memory"

When referring to ChatGPT's "memory," the term typically relates to two main aspects: the ongoing context within a single conversation session and the saved history of past conversations accessible to the user.

• Context within a Session: ChatGPT maintains context throughout an active chat session. This allows it to refer back to previous turns in the conversation, remembering details discussed earlier. This context is usually temporary and resets when a new chat is started.
• Conversation History: OpenAI's platform saves a log of past chat sessions for signed-in users. This history allows users to revisit previous conversations, and it can also be used by OpenAI, in anonymized form, to improve the model.

Deleting ChatGPT "memory" primarily refers to managing this conversation history and controlling whether future conversations are used for training.

Why Manage ChatGPT Conversation History?

Individuals may wish to manage or delete their ChatGPT conversation history for several reasons:

• Privacy Concerns: Conversations may contain sensitive or personal information that an individual does not wish to remain accessible or potentially used for future model training.
• Starting Fresh: Clearing old conversations can make the interface less cluttered and easier to navigate.
• Relevance: Older conversations may no longer be relevant, and removing them simplifies finding current information.

How to Delete ChatGPT Conversation History

The most direct way to remove past interactions visible to the user is by deleting the saved conversation history through the OpenAI interface.

Steps to Delete Conversations:

1. Access Chat Interface: Log in to the ChatGPT website or open the mobile application.
2. Locate Sidebar: Find the sidebar on the left side of the screen where past conversations are listed.
3. Individual Deletion: Hover over a specific conversation title in the sidebar. An trash can icon or delete option should appear. Clicking this will prompt confirmation to delete that single conversation.
4. Clearing All Conversations: At the bottom of the conversation list in the sidebar, there is typically an option like "Clear conversations." Clicking this will prompt confirmation to delete all saved conversations from the history.

Deleting conversations removes them from the user's visible history.

Controlling Data Usage for Training: Chat History & Training

OpenAI offers controls regarding the use of conversation data for training purposes.

• Chat History Setting: Within the ChatGPT settings, there is an option to turn "Chat History & Training" off.
  • When Off: New conversations started while this setting is off will not be saved in the history sidebar, and their data will not be used to train OpenAI's models.
  • When On: New conversations are saved in the history and may be used for training.
• Data Retention: Even when history is off, conversations may be retained by OpenAI for a limited time (typically 30 days) to monitor for abuse before being permanently deleted. This temporary retention is separate from the visible user history and is for safety monitoring.
• Past Data: Turning history off only affects future conversations. Data from conversations that occurred before this setting was turned off may have already been processed or used for training, subject to OpenAI's data usage policies at the time. Turning the setting off does not retroactively remove data from past training runs or internal datasets already processed.

Using Temporary Chat

Another method to ensure conversations are not saved is using the "Temporary Chat" option.

• This mode is available in some interfaces and provides a session that does not save to history and is not used for training the models.
• It offers a quick way to have a private conversation without changing the main history settings.

Deleting Account Data

For a more comprehensive removal of data associated with an individual's use, deleting the entire OpenAI account is an option.

• Deleting the account initiates a process to remove data associated with that account, subject to legal requirements and OpenAI's data retention policies.
• This is a more drastic step than simply deleting chat history or turning off training data usage.

Summary of Options for Managing "Memory"

Individuals can manage their ChatGPT interactions and associated data through several methods:

• Delete specific conversations: Removes selected chats from the user's visible history.
• Clear all conversations: Removes all chats from the user's visible history.
• Turn off "Chat History & Training": Prevents future conversations from being saved to history and used for training (with a temporary retention period for safety monitoring).
• Use "Temporary Chat": Provides a single session that is not saved or used for training.
• Delete the OpenAI account: Initiates removal of data associated with the account.

It is important to understand that deleting history or turning off training data usage primarily controls visibility and the use of future data. Data from past conversations may have already been processed according to policies in effect at that time and is not typically retroactively removed from internal training datasets.