While interacting with ChatGPT, I was surprised to find it incorporates answers based on past questions beyond the current thread. I’ve clarified the following points for your reference.
ChatGPT sometimes provides answers that seem to build upon previous questions.
This works through the following mechanism.
In other words,
it cannot read “the actual conversation from another thread,”
but it can reference “background information it learned about you in the past.”
Your past threads are like “notes,”
but you cannot directly open those notes.
However, ChatGPT remembers the “developer style, interests, and environment” it learned by viewing those notes.
This “memory” is strictly dedicated to the questioner’s account
and is completely inaccessible to other users or external AI.
Additionally, the questioner can request to “erase the memory” if desired.
“Delete” and “Archive” serve different purposes.
Suitable for:
Completed projects or conversations no longer needed.
Recommended for:
Threads you might want to revisit later as reference material
Recommended management for past threads
| Type | Purpose | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary research | Keep ChatGPT light & organized | Delete thread |
| Knowledge/settings/procedures to save | Want to keep ChatGPT light/organized | Rename/organize, export to external notes (e.g., Notion), then delete |
| Content for long-term reference | Want to revisit later/keep backup | Archive |
| Ongoing projects, etc. | Need detailed review and context preservation | Keep thread active |
