ChatGPT gains access to Apple Messages, raises privacy concerns

OpenAI has launched a new feature for ChatGPT that allows users to control Apple’s Messages app on Mac computers. This development, announced on Thursday, raises privacy concerns due to the sensitive nature of the information involved. The feature enables ChatGPT to read, write, and send text messages, search through conversations, and provide summaries of users' message history.

Although OpenAI requires user consent for this interaction, it also necessitates adjustments in Mac System Settings, including enabling Full Disk Access for messages and contacts. This integration parallels permissions required by other AI-powered automation tools that interface with applications on a computer. Apple, known for its emphasis on user privacy, may face pressure as ChatGPT gains access to information stored in the Messages app.

The company has not yet commented on this development. OpenAI has been progressively integrating ChatGPT with data stored on users' devices, such as Apple's Health app on iPhones and iPads. However, this latest integration brings ChatGPT closer to the type of personal data that Apple is developing for its own AI-powered assistant, Siri.

The integration of ChatGPT with Mac applications like Xcode, Notes, and Terminal is not as sensitive as the Messages app due to the private nature of users' communications. Apple has previously cautioned against third-party services attempting to replicate or extend iMessage functionality. In December 2025, the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) issued a cybersecurity advisory about vulnerabilities in OpenAI’s GPT-4o and GPT-5 models, warning of the potential for attackers to manipulate ChatGPT through indirect prompt injection.