Anthropic has introduced a new memory feature for its Claude chatbot, allowing it to search and reference past conversations on demand. Unlike persistent memory tools from some competitors, Claude will only retrieve previous chats if a user specifically requests it, and it will not automatically build a personal profile.
The company demonstrated the feature in a YouTube video, showing a user asking what they had been discussing before leaving for vacation. Claude was able to locate and summarize relevant chats, then offer to continue the project. Anthropic says the tool is designed to help users pick up where they left off, continue long-term projects, and reference earlier discussions without starting from scratch.
Available on web, desktop, and mobile, the function can keep projects and workspaces separate. It is rolling out first to Claude’s Max, Team, and Enterprise subscribers, with broader availability planned. Users can enable it by going to Settings > Profile > Search and reference chats.
While OpenAI’s ChatGPT already offers a more persistent memory option, Anthropic’s decision to keep this feature on-demand may appeal to privacy-conscious users wary of chatbots automatically retaining information. Company spokesperson Ryan Donegan confirmed that Claude is not storing an ongoing user profile as part of this rollout.
The update comes as Anthropic and OpenAI continue to compete on features, from expanded voice modes and larger context windows to new subscription tiers. Anthropic is reportedly seeking funding at a valuation of up to $170 billion, while OpenAI recently launched GPT-5.
Memory tools are emerging as a key differentiator among AI platforms, promising greater continuity for users — but also raising debates over privacy, data handling, and the psychological effects of long-term AI interaction.
