Memory Failure

Example

Although the system recorded an exclusion specified in an earlier exchange, it ignores the exclusion when choosing new options and suggests the same excluded option again.

Distinctions and cautions

Memory Failure concerns the handling of stored history or system state. It is not synonymous with Long-context Utilization Failure (failing to use information in the current long context), Retrieval Failure (failing to obtain external information), or the question of whether the model contains a fact in its parameters.

Terminology note

Memory Failure may be treated as an umbrella term covering multiple problems, including storage, retrieval, updating, and retention. It does not attribute individual memory mechanisms or attack conditions to a single cause.

Related concepts

Long-context Utilization Failure (017)—failure to use current long context; Retrieval Failure (025)—failure to obtain needed external information; AI Agent (033)—a system that may maintain state across multiple actions; Error Propagation (039)—a mistake carried forward to later stages.

Evidence