ChatGPT expands its memory beyond its own conversations with Computer History, a new feature within its macOS application. This capability transforms a user's recent activity on their Mac into usable 'Memories' for ChatGPT and Codex, providing them with deeper context about the user's work.
How Contextual Memories Function
The system operates by capturing an event stream from applications and websites authorized by the user. These events can include clicks, text input, keyboard shortcuts, application switches, as well as context provided by macOS accessibility features. This activity is periodically synthesized to create a timeline of recent work and memory files that are stored locally on the Mac.
This contextual memory provides powerful assistance. For instance, it makes it possible to find recently viewed documents or conversations, resume a project without having to reconstruct all previous steps, or identify repetitive tasks. With this information, ChatGPT and Codex can suggest appropriate skills or automations tailored directly to these specific work habits.
Access Requirements and Privacy Controls
Access to Computer History is currently limited in scope. The feature is available for Pro, Business, and Enterprise users and requires explicit Memories activation. In the Business and Enterprise workspaces, an administrator must first authorize Computer History before individual members can choose to activate it. Upon launch, the feature is not available in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom.
Despite its powerful nature, user control and privacy safeguards are prominent features:
- Default Status: Computer History is disabled by default.
- Exclusions: The system does not capture screenshots, screen recordings, microphone input, or system audio. Activity from private browsing is also excluded.
- User Control: Users retain granular control, able to choose precisely which applications and sites are authorized to contribute to the history, pause collection, and delete items from their stored history.
Regarding data handling, temporary interaction events can be stored locally for a maximum of 48 hours. OpenAI states that these events are processed but not retained on its servers after this period, except where legally required, and they are not used to train the models. The generated Memories are then stored locally in Markdown files until deleted by the user. Users must note that Computer History does not encrypt these local files, which may contain sensitive information.
Computer History thereby brings ChatGPT and Codex closer to a persistent memory of work performed on Mac while leaving the user in control of the applications, websites, and activities that feed this history.
