OpenAI has introduced a new feature for the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS called “Computer History,” designed to track user activity to enhance productivity. This tool converts clicks and keystrokes into training data, enabling the AI to learn how a user works, suggest automations, and even resume tasks that were left unfinished.
Functionality and Timelines
The feature builds a timeline of user activity that ChatGPT and Codex can reference when processing requests. In a demonstration by OpenAI’s Dominik Kundel, the app was shown identifying the last document edited, verifying if it was shared via Slack, and delivering a comprehensive recap of the user's morning activities.
Privacy and Controls
While reminiscent of Microsoft’s controversial Windows Recall, OpenAI emphasizes that Computer History does not capture images, video, or audio. Instead, it relies strictly on “events.” The feature is strictly opt-in, offering users several layers of control:
- Exclusion of specific apps and websites from tracking.
- Manual deletion of specific history entries.
- Automatic ignoring of private or incognito browser tabs, as confirmed by OpenAI's Ari Weinstein.
