Anthropic now offers free Claude users memory features and cross-platform chat import, boosting its app’s U.S. popularity amid Pentagon disputes over AI ethics.

All free users of Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude now have access to its Memory feature, which was previously only available to paid users. This feature allows the AI to remember previous exchanges for more individualized, ongoing interactions. The update reduces friction when switching AI services by including a tool that allows users to import chat history and preferences from competing platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini through a straightforward copy-paste procedure. This action coincides with Claude's ascent to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store due to its increasing popularity during a high-profile conflict with the Pentagon over the military's use of its AI, including surveillance and autonomous weapons. Despite being called a "supply-chain risk," Anthropic maintains its commitment to ethical AI while defying government demands. With the ability to pause, erase, or manage memories, users maintain complete control over their data.