Discovering Myself Through AI: Reflections on ChatGPT's "Memories" Feature

Have you ever had one of those moments where technology surprises you — not with a new gadget or app, but by revealing something profound about yourself? Last night, I experienced just that with ChatGPT's "memories" feature, and it led me down quite an unexpected rabbit hole.

Back in February Open AI has launched a new memories setting. which vaguely suggested that Chat GPT remember things about you. 7 months in, I was casually exploring ChatGPT's settings and decided to read through what it had gathered from our past interactions. As I scrolled, I was both amazed and a bit unsettled. There it was — a detailed profile of me, complete with insights about my immediate family, my interests, preferences, CV details, career aspirations, and even nuances I hadn't consciously shared. It felt like looking into a digital mirror that reflected not just my surface, but layers beneath:

This is just a first page, but it goes on and on and, I am not for sure not comfortable with sharing it all with you. Over the past months, I'd been using ChatGPT as more than just a tool for quick answers. It became a sort of silent confidant during late-night brainstorming sessions, a sounding board for my ideas, and yes, even a source of mental support during challenging times. Without realizing it, I had been pouring pieces of myself into our conversations. The AI remembered.

The Podcast Experiment: A Meta Dive

Intrigued by how much ChatGPT had learned about me, I decided to take it a step further. A few weeks ago Google launched a new AI tool https://notebooklm.google.com/ which among other stuff allow to generate an engaging podcast between 2 persons speaking about a random topic. I told ChatGPT o1-preview about this podcast tool and asked to produce a perfect prompt for a podcast that is based on ChatGPT memories about myself and contemplating the effect of this kind of tools on society:

It produced quite a prompt as seen on the picture and I immediately fed it to the NotebookLM

What emerged was nothing short of fascinating—a conversation between two hosts discussing someone uncannily similar to me. They delved into topics I cared about, wrestled with dilemmas I faced, and even touched on personal aspirations and concerns.

Listening to this AI-generated podcast was like stepping outside myself and observing my life from a new vantage point. It wasn't just about hearing my thoughts echoed back; it was about gaining fresh perspectives on them.

Don't take my words, for it, listen: it's only 3.30 minutes. The full podcast is 10 minutes, but it went way too personal; so personal that I'm not comfortable to share, so I trimmed it:

The Power and Perils of AI Memory

This whole experience got me thinking about the broader implications:

• Depth of Understanding: ChatGPT's ability to piece together a coherent and intimate picture of who I am highlighted just how advanced AI has become in contextual understanding.
• Privacy Considerations: If an AI can know so much about me from our interactions, what does that mean for privacy? How is this data stored, and who has access to it? Can this data be used against me? Is my personal life protected enough?
• Tool for Self-Reflection: On the flip side, this technology can be an incredible tool for self-reflection, helping us see patterns and insights we might overlook. I asked Chat GPT (with advanced voice mode enabled) to act as cognitive behavioral therapy coach and I had an amazing meaningful 20 minutes session which was spot on and went trully deep.

Embracing Technology Mindfully

I'm not advocating for everyone to dive headfirst into sharing their deepest thoughts with an AI. But I do believe there's value in engaging with technology in a way that promotes personal growth. Here are some takeaways from my journey:

1. Be Intentional: Use AI tools with a purpose. Whether it's for productivity, learning, or reflection, set clear intentions.
2. Stay Informed: Understand how the technology works. Know what data is collected and how it's used.
3. Reflect Regularly: Take time to review your interactions. You might be surprised at what you learn about yourself.

The Road Ahead

Technology is evolving rapidly, and AI is becoming more integrated into our lives. My experience with ChatGPT's "memories" feature was a wake-up call to the potential both for personal enrichment and the need for mindful engagement.

As we navigate this landscape, let's strive to balance embracing innovation with staying grounded in our humanity. After all, tools are only as good as how we use them.

References

• OpenAI ChatGPT with Advanced Voice mode; memory and O1 preview is bleeding edge of modern LLM; I am trully amazed by the power of this technology. If you haven't tried it yet, please do now. https://openai.com/chatgpt/
• Google was kind of behind in the consumer facing conversational ai products up until now, but they actually managed to impress with their Notebook LM experiment. Do check it out while it's still available https://notebooklm.google/. If you want a meditative affirmation, generate a podcast based on your LinkedIn profile. You will be surprised to learn so much about yourself.