Conda update does not work

Conda states:

==> WARNING: A newer version of conda exists. <==
  current version: 4.12.0
  latest version: 23.1.0

Please update conda by running

    $ conda update -n base -c defaults conda

When I run the update command it returns:

(base) user@laptop:~/project$ conda update -n base -c defaults conda

Collecting package metadata (current_repodata.json): done
Solving environment: done


==> WARNING: A newer version of conda exists. <==
  current version: 4.12.0
  latest version: 23.1.0

Please update conda by running

    $ conda update -n base -c defaults conda


# All requested packages already installed.