ChatGPT Now Uses Memory to Personalize Web Searches
OpenAI has recently added a new feature to ChatGPT that makes web browsing smarter and more personalized.
According to recent reports, the feature—called “Memory with Search”—allows ChatGPT to use information it has previously stored from conversations with the user, such as dietary preferences, lifestyle habits, or location. This contextual memory helps the model deliver more accurate and tailored search results during web-based queries.
“Memory with Search”: ChatGPT’s New Personalization Feature
For example, if ChatGPT knows you’re a vegetarian living in San Francisco, and you ask, “What restaurants near me might I like?”, it can automatically rewrite your query to something more precise like “Good vegan restaurants in San Francisco.” This results in more relevant and personalized search outcomes based on your preferences.
The feature is rolling out gradually, and it’s still unclear which users currently have access. Some users on X (formerly Twitter) have reported seeing the feature earlier this week, while many others say it hasn’t shown up for them yet.
OpenAI quietly announced the “Memory with Search” feature through its support notes and the changelog on its website. In the April 16, 2025 update, alongside the introduction of new models o3 and o4-mini, the company also highlighted the rollout of this memory-integrated search capability.
This update is part of OpenAI’s broader effort to gradually strengthen ChatGPT’s memory system—recently enhanced to include full access to a user’s conversation history. The move appears to be part of a larger strategy to stay competitive with rival chatbots like Claude from Anthropic and Google’s Gemini, both of which are increasingly focused on building memory-based features.
For users who prefer not to use this functionality, it can be turned off entirely by heading to the settings menu and disabling ChatGPT’s memory feature.
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