ChatGPT can now remember what you did on your Mac — without screenshots

OpenAI has introduced a new feature called "Computer History" for ChatGPT Work and Codex on macOS, which aims to remember users' daily activities on their computers. This optional feature, available to Pro, Business, and Enterprise users, can monitor activities across apps and websites with permission, enabling ChatGPT to provide answers to queries about their past work.

For example, users could ask ChatGPT about debugging sessions or the last point reached in a PR, without needing to re-explain the context. This would allow ChatGPT to retrieve relevant files, documents, and conversations based on the user's history, including those in Google Docs, Slack, or open browser tabs. OpenAI emphasizes that Computer History does not rely on screen or audio capture.

Instead, it captures interaction events such as clicking, typing, and app switching. The feature is designed to be user-controlled, with a menu bar entry and settings in the ChatGPT desktop app allowing users to exclude specific apps or websites. By default, the feature is off, and users can pause it through the menu bar. All data is stored locally, providing users with visibility and the ability to delete captured information if desired.

While this feature aims to address privacy concerns, some users and employers may still find the model's access to summarized data concerning enough to keep the feature turned off. Computer History is now available to all Pro, Business, and Enterprise users, with users in the EEA, UK, and Switzerland gaining access in the coming weeks.