Overview
- OpenAI rolled out Computer History in its ChatGPT macOS app as an opt-in tool that records interaction events such as clicks, typing, keyboard shortcuts and app switches to build a searchable timeline and local memories for ChatGPT and Codex.
- The feature is available only to paid tiers (Pro, Business and Enterprise), is off by default, requires workspace admins to enable it for work accounts, and currently excludes the EEA, the UK and Switzerland.
- OpenAI says events are processed on its servers, raw event files are deleted within 48 hours, and the resulting memories are written back to the Mac as plain-text Markdown files stored locally under a documented path.
- OpenAI warns those memory files are not encrypted and that Computer History raises prompt-injection and malware‑exfiltration risks because other programs running as the macOS user could read the files or hostile content could enter the assistant’s context.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman framed Computer History as an early step toward a continuously aware assistant he predicts could be useful within about six months, a direction that mirrors broader industry moves toward persistent, context‑rich AI helpers.