Short-Term Memory
The ability of an AI agent to retain and reference information from the current conversation session. This enables the AI to maintain context and continuity throughout a single customer interaction.
Short-term memory in AI agents functions similarly to human working memory—it holds information temporarily during an active conversation. This capability allows the AI to remember customer details, previous questions, and context shared earlier in the same session, creating a coherent and natural dialogue experience.
In customer service applications, short-term memory prevents repetitive questions and enables progressive problem-solving. If a customer mentions their account number or describes an issue, the AI agent can reference this information throughout the conversation without requiring the customer to repeat themselves—a key factor in delivering efficient, frustration-free support.
The effectiveness of short-term memory is constrained by the AI's context window size. Advanced AI agents maximize short-term memory by efficiently managing conversation history, prioritizing recent and relevant information, and discarding unnecessary details to maintain optimal performance throughout extended interactions.