Keep Agent Memory Small, Useful and Correctable

A practical approach

Step 1

Separate preferences from factual records and temporary task notes. Decide which categories deserve persistence and for how long.

Step 2

Store the source, timestamp and scope with a memory item. A preference for one project should not automatically apply to every future task.

Step 3

Provide a correction path and reconcile contradictory updates. Re-read authoritative records when a stale memory could change the result.

Worked example

A trainer once preferred evening sessions for a particular college programme. Applying that preference to every corporate workshop would be an unjustified generalization. The memory should retain its project scope, while each confirmed event schedule comes from the current event record.

A mistake to avoid

Summarization can turn a tentative idea into a commitment. Phrases such as ‘considering a weekend session’ must not become ‘session confirmed for the weekend’. Preserve uncertainty and distinguish proposals from decisions.

Try it yourself

Review ten memory items from a sample assistant. Mark each as preference, verified fact, temporary note or uncertain inference. Remove items without a clear future purpose and add a correction rule for the rest.

Your implementation checklist

• Memory items have a defined scope.
• Tentative ideas remain tentative.
• Authoritative records can override summaries.
• Users can correct or remove persisted information.