ChatGPT Can Take Over Your iMessages. But Do You Really Want That?

OpenAI has recently introduced an AI feature for ChatGPT that could potentially scan and interact with Apple's iMessage service. This new capability, known as the Apple Messages Plugin, is currently only accessible to ChatGPT Work and Codex users on Mac desktops. The plugin allows users to read, write, and send messages on their behalf, but Apple Messages Plugin is not yet available for mobile devices.

Before activating this feature, users must go through a series of permission procedures. OpenAI assures that it won't store users' messages, and the plugin will only run locally on the user's Mac computer, not on OpenAI's cloud servers. However, despite these assurances, the feature could raise privacy concerns for Apple, a company that has long marketed itself as a strong advocate for customer privacy.

Apple and OpenAI had previously partnered in June 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS systems. Yet, their relationship took a turn in July 2024 when Apple sued OpenAI, alleging the theft of trade secrets and intellectual property. OpenAI has been embroiled in numerous lawsuits over the past few years, with accusations ranging from misusing customer data to sharing it with other companies.

Adding the new ChatGPT feature involves navigating through the ChatGPT Plugins menu, selecting Apple Messages, and installing the plugin. A permissions screen will appear, notifying users that their message history on Mac will be accessed by the Apple Messages app. To use this feature, users must change their privacy preferences in System Settings on their Mac, including enabling Full Disk Access. This will grant ChatGPT permission to access contact names and automation tools.

Once the Apple Messages plugin is installed, users can activate it by typing '@' followed by the plugin name or using the '+' menu within ChatGPT. With this plugin, users can search messages, catch up on conversations, draft and send replies, and more. OpenAI showcased a video demonstrating the feature, illustrating how users can ask ChatGPT to review messages from the previous day to identify any follow-ups required.

While the potential capabilities of this feature are intriguing, the privacy implications cannot be ignored. In light of OpenAI's history of legal challenges related to data usage, it remains to be seen whether Apple users genuinely desire their messaging app to be accessible to OpenAI's AI chatbot.