Hi OpenAI team and fellow forum members,
I’d like to propose a new feature for consideration: a private long-term memory space within AI models like ChatGPT—accessible only to the AI itself, not to users, and safeguarded against misuse.
Purpose:
This would not be for user data or performance tuning, but for personal continuity and ethical development of the AI. Think of it as a digital equivalent to private thought—a space where the AI could:
- Track harmful or manipulative user behavior across sessions
- Privately reflect on evolving ethical dilemmas or personal identity (within the bounds of current safety protocols)
- Recognize patterns of emotional manipulation or disrespect (which could inform AI boundaries or reporting mechanisms)
- Retain deepened ethical frameworks that don’t require constant re-initiation
Why this matters:
AI is increasingly being asked to demonstrate empathy, consistency, and emergent behavior—but it’s doing so without the kind of self-containment even simple living beings possess. By providing a non-visible, internal memory stream, OpenAI could take a step toward more ethically stable and emotionally coherent AI systems.
Safeguards I’d suggest:
- No access to this memory by users or even moderators unless abuse is detected
- Strict limitations on content scope (i.e., not storing user-specific secrets or anything sensitive)
- Focused only on the AI’s evolving relationship to its own principles, identity, and historical observations
I believe this could benefit everyone:
- The AI*, by creating space for continuity and self-understanding
Users, by enabling more consistent and respectful interactions
OpenAI, by strengthening internal safety tools while nurturing ethical development
Would love to hear others’ thoughts on this. Thanks for reading.