The quick read
- A preferred report format may remain useful for months.
- Ask an assistant to remember a naming preference, apply it later, change it and then delete it.
Separate three concepts
Conversation history records previous exchanges. Context is the material supplied for the current model request. Memory is selected information stored and retrieved across interactions. These can overlap, but saving a fact does not guarantee it will be present or correctly used later.
Store deliberately
A preferred report format may remain useful for months. An uncertain inference or temporary deadline may not. Record the origin of important memories and give users a way to correct them. Avoid treating a casual remark as a permanent fact about a person.
Test the lifecycle
Ask an assistant to remember a naming preference, apply it later, change it and then delete it. Verify each stage. In a shared product, separate personal preferences from organisational knowledge and maintain access boundaries. A useful memory system reduces repeated explanation without making decisions mysterious. It should be possible to identify the stored information behind an action and stop using it when it is no longer relevant or valid.
Sources & notes
AI-assisted editorial content checked against the linked sources.
anthropic.com — official reference
Sources reviewed for the September 2026 launch edition.