The Wall Street Journal

The AI Experience Is Going From ‘50 First Dates’ to ‘Cheers’

The acquisition of memory brings growing context, awareness and relevance to AI chatbots and agents, even as such personalization ramps up the need for data privacy, security and responsible use

Artificial intelligence’s growing powers of recall will make it feel like a companion that knows us well enough to take unprompted, proactive action.
Artificial intelligence’s growing powers of recall will make it feel like a companion that knows us well enough to take unprompted, proactive action. Illustration: Thomas R. Lechleiter/WSJ

Artificial intelligence is entering what might be known as its “Cheers” era, when every chatbot will know your name.

“Cheers,” the long-running sitcom, was based on the premise that bartenders and bar regulars get to know each other, their history, their preferences and their strengths and weaknesses as they spend time together. When Norm Peterson—played by George Wendt, who died last week—walked through the door, he was greeted by name.

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