ManuAI
VI

Lesson 153 · 2 min

Projects and memory: AI that keeps your context

Projects and memory save you from explaining yourself again in every new chat, as long as you stay in charge of what is kept.

A plain chat starts from zero. The assistant does not know your job, your style or the files you sent last week. Re-explaining that each time is the most boring part of using AI.

A project is a folder for one area of work. You add reference files and a short set of instructions, like "I run a bakery in Hue, answer in a warm tone, prices in VND". Every chat you open inside that project starts with that background already loaded.

Memory works across chats. When it is turned on, the assistant can recall useful facts you have shared, such as your role or preferences. Good apps let you see what is remembered, edit it, and turn memory off.

Context helps only when it is right. Out-of-date files lead to out-of-date answers, so tidy your projects now and then. Keep passwords, ID numbers and other people's private details out of both projects and memory.

Do it now

Set up one project

  1. 1. Pick a task you repeat, such as replying to customers or planning lessons.
  2. 2. Create a project and write three lines of instructions: who you are, who the work is for, and the tone you want.
  3. 3. Add one or two reference files, then start a chat inside it and compare the answer with a plain chat.
Help me write project instructions for this work: [DESCRIBE THE TASK]. Ask me five short questions first, then give me instructions of no more than 120 words.

Quick check

Which is the safest thing to keep in a project's instructions?

Which is the safest thing to keep in a project's instructions?

Keep going

Next →Skills: teach the AI a task once

More on this

Words from this lesson

Memory
A chatbot feature that saves facts about you between conversations so you do not have to repeat them.
Context window
The maximum amount of text an AI can look at in one go. Anything beyond it is forgotten for that conversation.
System prompt
Background instructions set by the app maker, hidden from you, that tell the AI how to behave in every conversation.
Data privacy
Keeping personal or confidential information under control, including deciding what you type into AI tools and where it is stored.