Google Launches Gemini Import Tools to Poach Users From Rival AI Apps
Anyone looking to switch their AI assistant will find it surprisingly easy, as it only takes a few steps to move from A to B. This is noteworthy insofar as it shows that the “moat” of OpenAI’s or Anthropic’s business models is quite low — and users can leave very quickly.
Google has now responded, at a time when OpenAI is pivoting from B2C to B2B, with new import tools designed to make switching to Gemini significantly easier. At the same time, Anthropic is also showing with Claude what a smooth transition can look like.
Gemini Learns What Matters
Google has introduced new switching tools for all consumer accounts, allowing memories, personal context, and the complete chat history from other AI apps to be imported directly into Gemini. The feature is rolling out immediately and can be accessed via the Gemini app’s settings.
The memory import process is deliberately kept simple: in the settings, you select the new import option and receive a suggested prompt that you paste into your previous AI app. The other chatbot then generates a summary of the stored preferences. You then copy this summary back into Gemini, which analyzes the information and stores it securely in your own Gemini context.
In this way, Gemini can take over the same core information that was previously stored in other apps, such as personal interests, names of family members, or your place of residence. Starting from scratch is therefore no longer necessary.
Importing the Complete Chat History
In addition to the memory import, Google also offers the option to transfer the entire chat history from other AI services. To do this, you simply upload a ZIP file containing the exported history. Previous conversations can then be searched and continued directly in Gemini.
As part of this expansion, Google is renaming the existing “past chats” feature to “memory.” The renaming will be visible in the app in the coming weeks. Gemini’s so-called Personal Intelligence can also incorporate content from Gmail, Google Photos, and Google search history, provided the relevant access permissions have been granted.
Security and Availability
Google emphasizes that the import process is designed to be secure. All imported data is stored in the personal Gemini context of the respective account. Memory and chat history import are now available via the Gemini app’s settings page for all consumer accounts and are being rolled out gradually.
Switching from ChatGPT to Claude: Here’s How It Works
Anyone who would prefer to switch to Anthropic’s Claude rather than Gemini can do so in two steps, or read more here. First, you export the complete account history as a downloadable file in ChatGPT under Settings, Data Controls, Export Data. Additionally, the stored memory can be retrieved from ChatGPT using a special prompt that outputs all stored preferences, personal details, projects, and behavioral instructions in a structured format. Important: the memory feature in ChatGPT is only available to Plus and Pro subscribers.
In the second step, you bring this data to Claude. Anthropic offers a dedicated feature for this under Capabilities, Import Memory from Other AI Providers, Start Import. Claude takes over information such as professional context, communication preferences, technical preferences, and ongoing projects. It should be noted that the memory feature in Claude is also only available for paid subscriptions, specifically for Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans. For users of free accounts, a complete memory transfer is therefore only of limited use.
