OpenAI is developing a new ‘Computer History’ feature for ChatGPT that records user activity on desktops to provide more seamless task management, but privacy implications are prompting cautious rollout in Europe and other regions.
OpenAI is preparing to add a new “Computer History” feature to ChatGPT that records activity on a user’s computer so the assistant can understand ongoing work more accurately. According to El Diario and reporting from Windows Central, the tool is designed to build a searchable timeline of recent actions, giving ChatGPT more context when helping with unfinished tasks or follow-up requests.
The feature appears to focus on ordinary desktop interactions rather than full-screen capture. Windows Central said the system tracks events such as clicks, typing, app switching and other activity inside selected applications, while Tom’s Guide reported that it does not collect screenshots, audio or microphone input. In OpenAI’s framing, the aim is to create a memory of work in progress rather than a surveillance tool.
OpenAI is said to be launching the feature first on macOS, with Windows support planned later. Tom’s Guide reported that the function is opt-in and may require extra approval for business and enterprise accounts. It also said the data is held locally for a short period before being processed to produce the memory timeline, which is intended to improve continuity between sessions.
The practical promise is straightforward: ChatGPT would be able to resume tasks more intelligently, rather than starting from zero each time. According to reporting by Cinco Días, the feature can help the assistant identify recently edited documents, summarise activity from the day and suggest automations based on repeated patterns of use. Ari Weinstein, an OpenAI executive working on computer use and frontier interfaces, said on X that the feature could help the system “complete tasks that you’re halfway through” and “suggest skills and automations” tailored to the user.
The privacy implications are likely to draw the most scrutiny. OpenAI presents Computer History as optional and user-controlled, but any tool that logs computer behaviour will inevitably raise questions about how much context is too much. Tom’s Guide said the feature is not currently available in the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the UK, which underlines how sensitive the rollout remains as OpenAI expands its desktop assistant ambitions.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
