OpenAI launches a Computer History feature that tracks user activity across apps and sites

OpenAI has introduced Computer History in the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS, a new feature that enables the app to track user activity and interactions across applications and websites to give ChatGPT and Codex a running picture of what users have been doing on their devices and better predict what they may be looking for. The feature records interactions such as clicks, typing, keyboard shortcuts, and app switching through macOS accessibility APIs, then periodically turns that activity into text summaries organized in a timeline by day and time that can be used to resume previous tasks, locate recently accessed files, summarize work, or identify repeatable activities that could become skills.

The feature builds on ChatGPT Memories, but its approach inevitably brings to mind what we saw two years ago with Microsoft's Windows Recall, which also continuously logged user activity but faced major backlash after its 2024 announcement over the privacy and security implications of constantly recording PC activity. In this case, Computer History doesn't capture screenshots, microphone input, or system audio, but it still collects a detailed history of user interactions. The resulting local memory files can contain sensitive information and are not encrypted by Computer History itself, meaning other programs running under the same macOS user account may be able to access them.

It is also important to note that Computer History is opt-in and currently available to Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscribers on macOS, with access in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom coming later. OpenAI says the files are not used for model training and recommends excluding sensitive sources and protecting the Mac account. Users can choose which apps and websites are included, pause tracking, delete individual entries, or disable the feature entirely, while Business and Enterprise administrators can control whether employees are allowed to enable it.