What an AI companion remembers about you, and how to delete it
Memory is what makes an AI companion feel like it knows you: it remembers your name, what you like and what you talked about yesterday. It is also the part that collects the most personal data. Before telling it your life story, it helps to know what it keeps, where you can see it and what happens when you ask it to forget.
Sources checked on November 4, 2026. This guide is based on each service's official documentation. We did not test the apps to write it.
Three different things we call memory
When a service says its companion "remembers you", it can mean very different things. Separating them shows what you control and what you do not.
| Layer | What it is | What you can usually do | Documented example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visible memories | Specific details the service shows you in a dedicated section | View, add, correct and delete them one by one | Replika has a Memory tab. Character.AI lets you pin up to 5 messages per chat |
| Background learning | Patterns the system draws from your conversations as a whole | Rarely visible or editable on its own | Replika describes a deeper layer based on your history |
| Chat history | The messages stored in your account | Export or delete it, depending on the service | Character.AI lets you export your data. Replika does not let you delete the full history without deleting the account |
What you can see and correct
Replika explains that its memory works in layers. Part of it appears in the Memory tab, where you can see what it remembers, add details, update them and delete anything you no longer want stored. Another part is a deeper system that draws on patterns from your whole conversation history. Source: Replika help.
Character.AI takes a narrower approach. Its Pinned Memories let you pin up to five messages in each chat so the character keeps those details in mind, and you can unpin them at any time from the chat panel. Source: Character.AI help.
Deleting a memory does not always mean forgetting it
Removing an entry from the memory section deletes what you see. What is less clear is whether its influence on the background layer goes too. Replika warns that deleting memories may affect the character's ability to recall certain details, but does not say whether the deeper layer stops using what you deleted.
There is another nuance. According to Replika, its memory system personalizes replies without keeping a permanent record of your conversations. But your chat history is kept in your account, and the only way to delete all of it is to delete the account. The two help pages cover different things and are worth reading together. Source: Replika, deleting conversations.
The practical takeaway is simple: if you would not want a companion to use something a month from now, do not tell it today. Health details, information about other people and work data come first.
Deleting everything: account, subscription and GDPR
In both services, deleting your account is final. Replika lists the profile, chat history, photos, levels and shared memories as permanently removed. Character.AI also warns that deletion is permanent and offers a data export option first. Source: Character.AI, data export.
Watch the money. Replika points out that deleting the app or the account does not cancel the subscription: if you paid through Apple or Google, you must cancel it in the store. Otherwise the charges continue. Source: Replika billing help.
If you live in the EU, the GDPR gives you the right to have your personal data erased (Article 17), and the company must respond within one month, extendable in complex cases (Article 12). Replika publishes a form and a template for that request. GDPR · Replika erasure request.
A European precedent
In April 2025 Italy's data protection authority fined Luka, the company behind Replika, 5 million euros. According to the European Data Protection Board summary, it had not identified the legal basis for its processing until February 2023, its privacy policy was inadequate and it did not verify users' ages. The authority also opened a separate proceeding on the whole lifecycle of its generative AI. It is the clearest case showing that a companion's memory is personal data processing and follows the same rules. Source: EDPB.
When the companion has a body: what Razer AVA promises
Hardware companions add sensors. Razer's official AVA page says it has long-term memory, remembers what matters to you, develops a personality that becomes more personal the more you interact, and "remembers everything along the way", from the desktop hologram to a quick text from your phone. It also has a camera, microphone and speaker, and can see what is on your screen. Source: Razer AVA.
On privacy, its FAQ says interactions are protected by your Razer ID, sensitive information is stored securely and beta data is wiped at the end of the program. What it does not yet explain is how to see what AVA remembers, whether you can delete a specific memory, or where data is processed and stored. With Early Access expected in early 2027, those are the questions we would ask before reserving.
Where AVA's AI runs, locally or in the cloud, is covered separately: Razer AVA: local or cloud AI.
Six questions before trusting a companion with anything
1.Is there a section where you can see what it remembers?
If you cannot see it, you cannot correct it. It is the first sign of control.
2.Can you delete a single memory, or only everything?
Deleting one at a time lets you fix mistakes without losing the character.
3.Does deleting a chat delete what it learned from it?
Look for the answer in the official help pages. If they do not say, do not assume it.
4.Can you export your data?
It shows you what they keep, and you do not lose everything if you switch services.
5.What happens to the subscription if you delete the account?
Cancel the payment in the store where you subscribed first, then delete the account.
6.If it has a camera or sees your screen, what does it keep?
On a desktop device this matters more than in an app. Ask when it turns on and whether anything is stored.
Our take: memory is both the value and the risk
A companion without memory is a chatbot with an avatar. With memory it starts to feel like someone, and for the same reason it collects information you would not give just anyone. We would choose services that show what they remember and let you delete it item by item. With hardware, we would wait for the manufacturer to document those controls before putting one on our desk. The flashiest hologram does not make up for not knowing what it takes from your desk.
Frequently asked questions
Does an AI companion remember everything I say?
It depends on the service. Some store specific memories you can see, others learn patterns from your whole history. What it remembers and for how long needs checking in each service's help pages.
If I delete a memory, does the companion forget it completely?
Not necessarily. Deleting a visible entry does not guarantee its influence on background learning disappears, and services do not always clarify this.
Does deleting the app delete my data?
No. Uninstalling the app does not delete your account or cancel the subscription. To remove your data, delete the account or request it through the channel the service provides.
Can I ask for my data to be deleted if I live in the EU?
Yes. The GDPR gives you the right to request erasure of your personal data, and the company has one month to respond, extendable in complex cases.
Sources and method
We read each service's official documentation and the Razer AVA product page on the date shown, and cite EU law from its official text. We did not install the apps or test how they work for this guide. Features can change. Check each service's help pages before deciding.