OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has said that the next major leap in artificial intelligence will not be in reasoning, but in memory. Speaking recently about the future of AI, Altman argued that persistent, long-term memory will transform digital assistants into personalised companions capable of recalling every detail of a user’s life.
“Reasoning is already very good. Memory is where the next big breakthrough will happen,” Altman explained, noting that current AI systems suffer from “short-term amnesia” and cannot retain information beyond limited sessions.
He predicted that future models will have “infinite, perfect memory,” allowing them to remember conversations, documents and personal preferences across years.
Altman suggested that this shift will redefine the role of AI, moving beyond reactive tools to proactive companions. “The winner in AI will be whoever builds the best personalised companion,” he said, adding that memory will be the foundation of this transformation.
OpenAI, which launched ChatGPT in 2022, has already integrated limited memory features into its products, enabling the system to recall user preferences across sessions.
Altman indicated that the company is working towards more advanced memory capabilities by 2026, signalling that this will be central to its next-generation models.
The implications of such technology are vast. Persistent memory could allow AI to act as a lifelong assistant, tailoring responses to individual users with unprecedented precision.
However, Altman acknowledged that the breakthrough raises serious ethical and privacy challenges. Storing “every detail of your life” could lead to misuse if not properly safeguarded, and governments may need to impose strict regulations on how AI memory is managed.
OpenAI’s rapid growth has already reshaped the technology landscape. ChatGPT now has hundreds of millions of weekly users, and the company has secured partnerships worth billions with major firms including Oracle, Nvidia and AMD.
Altman’s comments come as OpenAI continues to explore new funding rounds and faces speculation about a potential IPO in the coming years.
For Altman, however, the focus remains firmly on the technology itself. “Reasoning is great, but memory is what will change everything,” he said.
Sources: Livemint, IBTimes, Financial Express
