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ProPakistani
ChatGPT’s New Memory Records Your Clicks and Typing in Plain Text
OpenAI has launched a new feature in ChatGPT called 'Computer History' that allows users to track their activity across applications and websites on Mac. This feature builds a searchable memory that captures clicks, typing, and shortcuts, but raises privacy issues due to unencrypted text file storage. Users can control which apps and websites are monitored, and the feature is opt-in to mitigate risks. Notably, the feature is not available in certain regions such as the EU and UK due to privacy regulations, highlighting the careful balancing act of enhancing functionality while safeguarding user data.
MonitorConfidence: MediumShort term horizonData governance risk: High
Published 17 Aug 2026, 12:55 UTC2 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- New 'Computer History' feature tracks user interactions on Mac.
- Stores activity data in unencrypted Markdown files on local storage.
- Users can control data collection through app exclusions.
- Not available in the EU, Switzerland, and the UK.
- Privacy concerns include potential access by other software on the Mac.
Interesting facts
- The feature enhances ChatGPT's user experience by remembering past activities.
- Users can pause collection and review or delete their history at any time.
- The local memory files are not used for training models, but conversation context may impact model improvement.