Memory Systems for Autonomous Agents: Working, Episodic & Semantic

Memory is the backbone of intelligent behavior. Without memory, agents cannot learn, improve, or maintain continuity.

Why Memory Matters

Agents need memory to:

• Track ongoing tasks
• Store results
• Recall user preferences
• Learn from mistakes
• Build long-term knowledge

The Three Memory Types

1. Working Memory

Short-term task-specific context.

2. Episodic Memory

A log of past actions and experiences.

3. Semantic Memory

General-purpose knowledge learned over time.

Implementing Episodic Memory

class EpisodicMemory {
  private events: any[] = [];

  add(event: any) {
    this.events.push({ event, timestamp: Date.now() });
  }

  recall(limit = 10) {
    return this.events.slice(-limit);
  }
}