Agents & Agentic AI
Short-term memory
Temporary information kept during the current task or conversation.
Example
The agent keeps the current question and recent messages available during one conversation.
Why it matters
It keeps recent information available so follow-up requests make sense.
You'll hear it
“It still knows which draft we're discussing in this chat.”
Can you control it?
Sometimes
Sometimes. Some products or workflows let you influence short-term memory, while others keep it fixed or manage it automatically. Check the settings and documentation for the tool you are using.
Common questions
- Does it last after the conversation ends?
- Not necessarily. The product may discard it or keep only selected information.
- Can a long conversation crowd out earlier details?
- Yes. Limits on available space can cause material to be shortened or omitted.
- Is it identical to the visible chat history?
- No. A product may display older messages that the AI is no longer considering directly.