ChatGPT’s macOS app is getting a memory of what people do on their computers. The new opt-in Computer History feature records activity events such as clicks and keystrokes so ChatGPT and Codex can refer back to recent work when a user asks for help.
OpenAI says the system can identify a document someone edited, check whether it was shared in Slack, or summarize a morning’s work. Unlike Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature, Computer History does not capture screenshots, images, video, or audio; it relies on event data instead.
The privacy controls matter because the feature moves ChatGPT closer to watching workflow context rather than waiting for pasted prompts. Users can exclude specific apps and websites, delete entries, and OpenAI says private or incognito browser tabs are ignored automatically.
The practical trade-off is clear: richer automation needs more local context. People who enable it may get more useful help with unfinished tasks, while organizations will need to decide whether event-level desktop monitoring is acceptable for sensitive work.