User observes ChatGPT quality degrades in new chats compared to long threads
DawniJones · reddit · 2026-08-17
A user reported a significant performance discrepancy between old and new ChatGPT conversations during a coding project:
- In a single long thread, the model performed exceptionally well, remembering tasks, checking the repository, and producing error-free code despite slowing down over time.
- After starting a new chat due to session limits—even with a detailed manual and strict rules provided—the new instance performed poorly, requiring multiple corrections for a simple 200-line file.
The user noted that while the common belief is that models degrade over time, their experience was the opposite: the old session remained capable (albeit slower), whereas the new session acted like a "retarded cousin." This highlights potential issues with context retention, session state, and consistency in practical coding workflows.
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