diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 85bc4319d..9b2289d6b 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -2,7 +2,5 @@ OPENAI_API_KEY=
 
 # Update these with your pinecone details from your dashboard. 
 # PINECONE_INDEX_NAME is in the indexes tab under "index name" in blue
-# PINECONE_ENVIRONMENT is in indexes tab under "Environment". Example: "us-east1-gcp"
 PINECONE_API_KEY=  
-PINECONE_ENVIRONMENT=
 PINECONE_INDEX_NAME= 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7aa720bc7..f4ed1ab91 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ After installation, you should now see a `node_modules` folder.
 OPENAI_API_KEY=
 
 PINECONE_API_KEY=
-PINECONE_ENVIRONMENT=
 
 PINECONE_INDEX_NAME=
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 0c3498b71..b2bda1fa4 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@microsoft/fetch-event-source": "^2.0.1",
-    "@pinecone-database/pinecone": "1.1.0",
+    "@pinecone-database/pinecone": "3.0.2",
     "@radix-ui/react-accordion": "^1.1.1",
     "clsx": "^1.2.1",
     "dotenv": "^16.0.3",
diff --git a/utils/pinecone-client.ts b/utils/pinecone-client.ts
index 7f5b6c3fd..8c5c6e9ea 100644
--- a/utils/pinecone-client.ts
+++ b/utils/pinecone-client.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 import { Pinecone } from '@pinecone-database/pinecone';
 
-if (!process.env.PINECONE_ENVIRONMENT || !process.env.PINECONE_API_KEY) {
-  throw new Error('Pinecone environment or api key vars missing');
+if (!process.env.PINECONE_API_KEY) {
+  throw new Error('Pinecone api key var missing');
 }
 
 async function initPinecone() {
   try {
     const pinecone = new Pinecone({
-      environment: process.env.PINECONE_ENVIRONMENT ?? '', //this is in the dashboard
       apiKey: process.env.PINECONE_API_KEY ?? '',
     });