Google is reportedly testing a feature that would allow users to import chat histories from ChatGPT and other AI chatbots into Gemini, potentially lowering switching barriers in the AI assistant market.
Google appears to be exploring a feature that could significantly change how users move between AI assistants: the ability to import chat histories from competing chatbots directly into Gemini.
According to reports, upcoming versions of Google Gemini may include an option to bring in conversations from tools such as ChatGPT and other third-party AI services. While the feature has not yet been officially announced, references discovered in development builds suggest Google is actively testing the idea.
If implemented, the move would mark one of the clearest attempts yet to reduce lock-in across consumer AI platforms.
Why chat portability matters
AI chatbots are increasingly being used as long-term thinking partners — storing context, preferences, work history, and personal workflows. Over time, chat histories become valuable intellectual records rather than disposable interactions.
Until now, switching assistants often meant starting from scratch.
Allowing users to import existing chats would:
- Preserve context and prior reasoning
- Reduce friction when changing platforms
- Make experimentation with new AI tools easier
In effect, it treats AI chat history as user data rather than platform property.
How the feature is expected to work
Based on early indications, the import process would likely involve uploading exported chat files from other services into Gemini. Many AI platforms already allow users to download their conversation history, typically in JSON or text formats.
Gemini would then parse those files and incorporate them into its own conversation timeline, allowing users to:
- Reference older chats
- Continue discussions
- Build on past prompts and outputs
Google has not confirmed which platforms will be supported at launch, but ChatGPT is expected to be among the first.
A strategic signal from Google
From a competitive standpoint, the feature sends a notable signal. Rather than relying solely on feature differentiation, Google appears willing to lower switching costs — confident that Gemini’s performance, integration, or ecosystem can retain users on merit.
This contrasts with earlier phases of platform competition, where data lock-in was often treated as a defensive advantage.
The approach mirrors broader regulatory and cultural shifts toward data portability, where users increasingly expect control over their digital history.
Implications for the AI assistant market
If Gemini normalises chat import, pressure could mount on other AI providers to offer similar capabilities. Over time, this could lead to:
- Standardised chat export formats
- Easier multi-assistant workflows
- Reduced dominance of any single chatbot
Rather than one “default” AI, users may move fluidly between tools based on task, preference, or performance.
This would push competition toward quality, reliability, and specialised capabilities — not just early adoption.
Privacy and trust considerations
Importing chat histories also raises questions around privacy and data handling. AI conversations can include sensitive personal, professional, or proprietary information.
For such a feature to gain traction, Google will need to clearly communicate:
- How imported data is stored
- Whether it is used for training
- How users can delete or manage imported chats
Transparency will be critical, particularly as AI assistants become more deeply embedded in daily workflows.
What this says about AI maturity
The very idea of chat portability reflects how quickly AI assistants have matured. What began as novelty interactions are now durable records of thinking, planning, and problem-solving.
By treating chat history as portable, Google is implicitly acknowledging that AI conversations have long-term value — and that users, not platforms, should control them.
While it remains to be seen when or how broadly the feature will roll out, its emergence points to a more open and competitive phase of consumer AI.
