Brilliant piece Jeff. The memory moat thesis is spot on, but there's an interesting twist emerging:
The data we are observing is clear - users who experience memory-enabled AI show dramatically higher retention and engagement. But paradoxically, the strongest moat might not come from locking memories inside one AI assistant.
Think of memories like your digital consciousness - you'll want them to flow seamlessly across different AI tools and apps, just like your thoughts aren't confined to one conversation. The Model Control Protocol (MCP) trend signals this future.
The real moat will be built by whoever makes memories both powerful *and* portable. Users who experience the magic of AI that truly knows them won't go back - but they'll demand control over their digital minds.
Memory isn't just a feature, it's fundamental infrastructure for the AI era. And users will gravitate to systems that enhance their agency rather than diminish it.
Hmm. I went from asking myself why OAI would bother making their memory portable. But on 2nd thoughts, (i) they can charge rent for the privilege and (ii) they can use to to uniquely gain access to even more memory using a MCP like tag along.
Totally agree. Memory is the real unlock. It’s core to the product thesis I’m thinking through. Curious how long until it stops feeling like a feature and starts feeling like the baseline.
If memory is the new social graph, what kinds of products - or better yet, what new product categories - will capture the richest, most emotionally resonant memories? Curious where you think the real opportunity lies for founders to build trust & relevance and own that deep context layer (beyond the usual big tech suspects).
“Work goals. Relationship doubts. Health concerns. Every passing thought, every quiet worry.”
All mined and monetized, sold to whomever can pay. Those work goals? Your employer has them. Health concerns? Your health insurance company is on line 2 about your rate increase. Every private though, every quiet worry, used against you to tailor everything from targeted ads to phishing attempts.
And before you call me a Luddite or paranoid, realize I work on GenAI, I’m the call from inside the house, I KNOW what they’re planning because I’m part of those meetings.
lovely!
I read your writing and am always trying to keep up... you are the goat right now.
thanks man, i really appreciate it haha. move fast and break things!
Much agreed. Your always first on my twitter feed to show up
Brilliant piece Jeff. The memory moat thesis is spot on, but there's an interesting twist emerging:
The data we are observing is clear - users who experience memory-enabled AI show dramatically higher retention and engagement. But paradoxically, the strongest moat might not come from locking memories inside one AI assistant.
Think of memories like your digital consciousness - you'll want them to flow seamlessly across different AI tools and apps, just like your thoughts aren't confined to one conversation. The Model Control Protocol (MCP) trend signals this future.
The real moat will be built by whoever makes memories both powerful *and* portable. Users who experience the magic of AI that truly knows them won't go back - but they'll demand control over their digital minds.
Memory isn't just a feature, it's fundamental infrastructure for the AI era. And users will gravitate to systems that enhance their agency rather than diminish it.
Thank you - appreciate you reading
Hmm. I went from asking myself why OAI would bother making their memory portable. But on 2nd thoughts, (i) they can charge rent for the privilege and (ii) they can use to to uniquely gain access to even more memory using a MCP like tag along.
Great suggestion!
Did Scott Belsky make a shout in here? ;)
Totally agree. Memory is the real unlock. It’s core to the product thesis I’m thinking through. Curious how long until it stops feeling like a feature and starts feeling like the baseline.
Brilliant piece!
If memory is the new social graph, what kinds of products - or better yet, what new product categories - will capture the richest, most emotionally resonant memories? Curious where you think the real opportunity lies for founders to build trust & relevance and own that deep context layer (beyond the usual big tech suspects).
Agree!
We (entourage.tech) are building an open protocol for shared memory - a network where agents continuously learn from each other's discoveries.
Short and sweet. Great piece.
“Work goals. Relationship doubts. Health concerns. Every passing thought, every quiet worry.”
All mined and monetized, sold to whomever can pay. Those work goals? Your employer has them. Health concerns? Your health insurance company is on line 2 about your rate increase. Every private though, every quiet worry, used against you to tailor everything from targeted ads to phishing attempts.
And before you call me a Luddite or paranoid, realize I work on GenAI, I’m the call from inside the house, I KNOW what they’re planning because I’m part of those meetings.
No thank you.
Fully agree. Really well written, thank you.