ChatGPT Records Everything You Do on Your Computer: Convenient and Concerning
OpenAI
OpenAI has rolled out Computer History for ChatGPT's macOS desktop app, which observes user activity in authorized apps and websites, creates summaries, and uses them as context in future ChatGPT and Codex conversations. The feature captures interaction events like clicks and keystrokes, not screenshots, and stores memories locally for 48 hours before processing. Initially available to Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscribers, but not in the EU, Switzerland, or the UK.
On August 13, 2026, OpenAI announced the rollout of Computer History in its macOS desktop application. The app observes what users do in authorized applications and websites, creates textual summaries of activity, and uses these as context in future conversations with ChatGPT and Codex. This expands ChatGPT's memory beyond previous limits. The app builds a chronological timeline broken into minute-by-minute blocks, each with a title, summary, and list of contributing apps. Use cases include resuming work, locating documents, and automating routines. Computer History does not take screenshots; instead, it captures interaction events exposed by macOS's accessibility system, such as clicks, typing, shortcuts, and app changes. Events are stored locally in an isolated App Group for 48 hours, then processed by ephemeral Codex sessions on OpenAI's servers, which reportedly does not retain the event files or use them for training. The generated memories are stored locally as editable Markdown files. Users can choose which apps are monitored, private browsing is never recorded, and an icon in the menu bar indicates when recording is active. The feature is only available on macOS for Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscribers, not free or Plus users. It is not available in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the UK, with a possible rollout in the coming weeks.
Source: Numerama —
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