Lesson 1154 of 1570
How AI Agents Remember (or Don't) Between Tasks
Most agents forget everything when the chat ends — unless you give them a memory system.
Lesson map
What this lesson covers
Learning path
The main moves in order
- 1The big idea
- 2agent memory
- 3stateless
- 4context file
Concept cluster
Terms to connect while reading
Section 1
The big idea
Agents are stateless by default: each task starts blank. To remember things across sessions, they need a memory layer — a file they read at startup, a vector database, or a 'memory tool' like ChatGPT's. Otherwise you'll re-explain your project every morning.
Some examples
- Claude Code reads `CLAUDE.md` at the start of every session for project context.
- ChatGPT's memory feature stores facts you've shared (your name, preferences) across chats.
- Cursor uses `.cursorrules` to remember your team's style guide between agent runs.
- Custom GPTs use the Files panel as long-term memory the model can search.
Try it!
Create a CLAUDE.md or .cursorrules file with 5 facts about your project. Run an agent task. Notice how much smoother it goes.
Key terms in this lesson
End-of-lesson quiz
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