How to use Gemini's memory feature: When I stopped 'explaining every time,' the AI turned into a partner

If you've ever felt that it's a hassle to explain your situation to Gemini every single time you ask it something,

then this article will surely be helpful.

Hello, I'm Bob.

I work as a PM at an IT company, raise two children, and create content.

I talk to Gemini every day, and the current Gemini knows my name, my family structure, and the details of my work. So, just by asking a single question, I get an answer that takes my situation into account.

This isn't magic or anything; I'm just using Gemini's 'memory feature'.

In this article, I will explain everything about how the memory feature works, how to set it up, and even the reason why you might feel like 'nothing changed even though I turned it on'.

What exactly is Gemini's 'memory feature'?

Normal AI is 'reset every time'

First, I want you to understand the premise that normal chat AI 'forgets everything once the conversation ends'.

Even if you told it 'I am in my 30s' yesterday, if you open a new chat today, Gemini won't know your age.

This is the root cause of the poor usability where you feel like you're being asked to introduce yourself every time.

'I'm in my 30s, have two kids, and work as a PM...'

I think there are quite a few people who type things like this every time.

Memory feature = A mechanism to have long-term memory

When you turn on Gemini's memory feature, this 'reset every time' goes away.

The mechanism is simple.

Gemini will save the information you provide during conversations as 'long-term memory.' The next time you open a new chat, it will start with the information you provided previously already remembered.

In other words, the more you use it, the more Gemini understands you.

The AI that was 'a stranger every time' turns into 'someone who knows you.' This is the essence of the memory feature.

Know how to use it alongside 'Temporary Chat'

When you turn on the memory feature, your conversation content may be used to train Gemini.

I'm sure some of you might find that a bit concerning.

I am mindful of that point as well, so I use regular chat for everyday consultations and switch to 'Temporary Chat' when dealing with sensitive content.

Temporary Chat is a mode where conversation content is not used for memory or training.

If you know how to use these selectively, you can enjoy the benefits of the memory feature with peace of mind.

How to set up the memory feature (completed in 2 steps)

The setup is surprisingly easy. It won't even take a minute.

Step 1: Turn on 'Gemini Apps Activity'

Open the Gemini settings screen and look for the section called 'Personalization'.

Turn on 'Gemini Apps Activity' found here.

This allows Gemini to remember the content of your conversations.

Step 2: Turn on 'Custom Instructions'

Also turn on 'Custom Instructions for Gemini' in the same personalization section.

When this is turned on, the instructions and preferences you provide will be reflected in all your chats.

Once these two are turned on, the preparation for the memory feature is complete.

By the way, you can also enter information directly from the personalization settings screen, but you don't need to use it. It's much easier to convey things naturally within the chat.

The reason why 'nothing changes' just by turning it on

Now, this is the most important part.

I think there are actually quite a lot of people who have turned on the memory feature but feel like, 'Nothing has really changed...'

Gemini doesn't understand you automatically

Immediately after turning on memory, Gemini remains in a state where it 'knows nothing' about you.

It's easy to think, 'Since I turned it on, it should get smarter on its own,' but that's the pitfall.

The memory feature only means it 'has become capable of remembering,' but you yourself need to provide the 'information that should be remembered.'

There are a huge number of people who skip this part.

Just picking up fragments of conversation leads to incomplete memories

'No, won't it just remember things if I talk to it normally?'

It's true that Gemini picks up information from conversations. But if you only do that, the memories tend to become scattered.

For example, suppose you ask, 'Tell me a chicken breast recipe' in a conversation one day. Gemini might remember, 'I wonder if this person likes chicken breast.'

But in reality, you might just be 'choosing high-protein ingredients because you are losing weight through strength training,' and you don't necessarily like chicken breast.

When these kinds of 'fragmented memories' pile up, Gemini ends up with a slightly off-base understanding.

That is why it is important to 'organize your own information and provide it' at the beginning.

When you 'provide information,' Gemini changes like this [Before/After]

'Does it really change that much just by organizing and providing it?'

You might think that. It's faster to see it for yourself, so let's compare the Before/After in two scenes.

Scene 1: 'Plan a weekend trip'

When asked to a Gemini that remembers nothing:

'Here are some recommended places for a weekend domestic trip. Hakone, Kyoto, Okinawa... Here are the features of each.'

Yes, it's no different from a general travel site.

On the other hand, when I ask the same question to Gemini, which remembers my information:

"Bob, if you're going out with your family this weekend, considering the kids' ages, a park with an athletic course might be good. If you're coming from Tokyo, how about Showa Kinen Park or Moominvalley Park? They're about a 1-2 hour drive, and you can stop by a hot spring on the way back."

Family structure, children's ages, residential area, and means of transportation. It gives me a suggestion that takes all of that into account in one go.

This difference is significant.

Scene 2: 'Organize my tasks for today'

If you ask a Gemini that knows nothing:

"I will tell you the tips for organizing tasks. First, divide them into high, medium, and low priority..."

What I want to know isn't general theory, but the organization of my own tasks for today.

With a Gemini that remembers my information, it goes like this:

"Bob, today is Friday, so it's the deadline for your weekly report, right? It would be best to finish that first, and then focus on next week's sprint planning in the afternoon. Oh, and isn't it about time to update your Note? Should we push that to the weekend?"

It knows I'm a PM. It understands my Friday routine, which includes a weekly report. It also knows I write a Note as a side project.

That's why it organizes 'what I should do today' within my context.

This is the true power of the memory feature.

What should you have it remember? — The concept of an 'Instruction Manual'

After seeing the Before/After, I think some of you might have thought, 'I want to do that too.'

But the next question should arise here.

'Specifically, what and how should I have it remember?'

My method is simple: I give Gemini my 'personal instruction manual'.

Just by providing these 3 pieces of information, the answers change completely

The information I provide to Gemini is broadly divided into three categories.

Who you are. Where you are heading now. How you want to be spoken to.

By simply organizing and conveying these three things, Gemini's responses will become something else entirely.

The Before/After I showed earlier is exactly the result of that.

However, there is a trick to 'how to write it'

To be honest, there are cases where simply listing information in bullet points doesn't work well.

Sometimes Gemini's memory becomes scattered from too much information, or Gemini gets confused by vague expressions. I experienced those failures myself at first.

It's not just about what you write, but 'how you write it' that matters.

Actually, I have compiled this 'instruction manual' into a copy-paste template and published it so anyone can use it immediately.

I have summarized everything in one article: the full text of three types of templates, the design philosophy, common failure patterns, and even a secret trick to maintain memories through conversation alone without opening the settings screen. It covers the specific steps to raise Gemini into your 'personal secretary'.

For those who are thinking, 'I turned on the memory feature, but I don't know what to do next,' this should be ready for you to use as is.

Summary: Gemini's memory feature is determined by 'how you make it remember'

There are three things I wanted to convey in this article.

1. Gemini's memory feature is a 'long-term memory' mechanism that remembers conversations. Just by turning it on, you are freed from introducing yourself every time.

2. However, it won't change just by turning it on. Only by 'organizing and providing' your information will Gemini become your partner.

3. There are only three things to provide: who you are, where you are heading, and how you want to be spoken to. Just by conveying these three things, the quality of the responses will change completely.

I once wrote about my experience creating a promise sheet for my child using Gemini's image generation.

I felt it then, too: AI is not a 'high-performance tool,' but a 'partner that changes depending on how you interact with it.'

The memory feature is the first step toward starting that partnership.

If you haven't set it up yet, please try turning on the personalization settings today.

And first, try saying, 'My name is [Name]. Please remember that.'

With just that, it will start calling you by your name from the next conversation. That small change will surely be the trigger for you to want it to remember more.

I am Bob, and I share survival strategies for 'smartly surviving in an organization' by making full use of AI and Notion, while having an introverted and HSP temperament.

I would like to think about how to deal with daily work, human relationships, and my own emotions together with people who have the same sensibilities.

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