OpenAI introduces ‘Computer History’, a macOS feature that records user activity to enhance ChatGPT, sparking concerns over data security, sensitive information, and increased surveillance amid ongoing company turbulence.
OpenAI has introduced a macOS feature that records a user’s on-screen activity in order to build a running memory of what they do across apps and websites, a move that has renewed scrutiny of the company’s privacy posture. The feature, called Computer History, is available to ChatGPT Pro, Business and Enterprise subscribers and is designed to turn interactions into summaries that ChatGPT can later use in conversation, according to OpenAI’s documentation.
The company says the system collects clicks, typing, keyboard shortcuts, app switches and other context exposed through macOS accessibility controls. In practice, that means it can observe activity across a wide range of software, including browsers, messaging tools and financial applications, while the feature is enabled. Unlike Microsoft’s Recall, which faced criticism for taking screenshots, OpenAI’s tool focuses on the sequence of inputs that produce those screens.
OpenAI’s own security notes acknowledge that the data involved can be sensitive. The company says the files are not encrypted and may be accessible to other programmes running under the same macOS user account. It also says the local event files are retained for up to 48 hours before deletion. OpenAI says the raw event files are not kept after processing unless required by law, but the memory summaries created from them may persist and appear in later chats.
That distinction matters because OpenAI has also acknowledged the feature increases the risk of prompt injection, a known attack in which malicious instructions hidden in a webpage, document or app are interpreted by a model as user intent. OpenAI says it has built safeguards into its ChatGPT agent, including user confirmations for high-impact actions, refusal rules, monitoring for prompt injection and a watch mode on some sites, but the company still advises users to remain cautious.
The feature is switched off by default. Pro users can turn it on themselves, while Business and Enterprise customers need administrator approval. OpenAI says Computer History is limited to the macOS desktop app and is not available in the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the UK, a restriction that points to unresolved compliance issues around consent and data minimisation. The company also advises users to switch it off during conversations with other people unless they have obtained prior express consent.
The release arrives during a turbulent period for OpenAI. The company has recently dealt with security incidents involving its agents, senior executive departures and a service outage that disrupted ChatGPT and related tools. Against that backdrop, Computer History looks less like a simple productivity upgrade than a test of how much surveillance users are willing to trade for personalisation. OpenAI says the feature can make ChatGPT more useful over time. Whether that benefit outweighs the privacy cost will depend heavily on who is using it, on what device and for what kind of work.
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.
