ChatGPT Introduces Computer History to Remember Your Digital Activity

OpenAI has rolled out a new “Computer History” feature for the ChatGPT desktop app on Mac, giving the AI access to users’ activity across apps and websites to provide more personalized responses.

The feature is already rolled out and is currently available globally to Pro, Business and Enterprise subscribers.

OpenAI announced Computer History through a series of posts on X, describing it as an evolution of its earlier Chronicle research preview.

According to the company, the new version is designed to use fewer tokens while offering users greater control over their privacy compared to its predecessor.

Computer History runs in the background within the ChatGPT Mac desktop app. It records the apps and websites users visit and creates a.

ChatGPT can use this information during future sessions, allowing users to avoid repeatedly providing context about their previous work or activities timeline of that activity.

The timeline can also help users revisit earlier tasks and identify repetitive workflows.

OpenAI has built several controls into Computer History to give users greater control over their data. The feature requires users to explicitly opt in through Settings and then Integrations, and activity is not collected without their consent.

Users can also delete their entire history or remove activity from specific periods through the timeline or the menu bar.

OpenAI has pitched Computer History as a tool for skill-building through repeated activity, rather than just recalling past conversations within ChatGPT itself.

Privacy concerns regarding persistent memory tools continue to loom in the EU and UK markets.

OpenAI's decision to delay the rollout in EEA, UK, and Switzerland suggests that it is navigating these regulatory requirements before wider access.

Users who do not want to use the feature can simply choose not to opt in. OpenAI has also stated that the Integrations settings will always display the current status of Computer History.