Claude's Memory Architecture Is the Polar Opposite of ChatGPT's

7 hours ago

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Claude's memory system starts each conversation fresh, only activating when explicitly invoked.
Memory retrieval in Claude involves real-time searches through raw conversation history without summaries or compressed profiles.
Claude uses two retrieval tools: conversation_search for keyword-based searches and recent_chats for time-based access.
The conversation_search tool can handle multiple topics by running separate searches sequentially.
The recent_chats tool retrieves conversations chronologically or by specific timeframes.
ChatGPT and Claude have diverged in their memory systems, reflecting their different user bases and product philosophies.
ChatGPT's memory system is automatic and builds detailed user profiles for personalization, targeting a mass-market audience.
Claude's memory system is designed for technical users who prefer explicit control and privacy, focusing on professional workflows.
The design space for AI memory is vast, with no one-size-fits-all solution, and is still evolving rapidly.
The article highlights the ongoing experimentation and lack of settled best practices in AI memory systems.

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