Computer History is a new optional feature in the ChatGPT app for macOS that allows ChatGPT and Codex to look back at selected user actions across apps and websites. The feature promises continuity in the work, but it reopens the debate about how detailed an AI assistant's digital history should be.
OpenAI describes the feature as an activity timeline. Instead of the user having to explain what they did from the beginning, ChatGPT can use selected elements of the previous work environment to continue a process or suggest automations.
The feature was first reported by The Verge, while OpenAI's official update was published on August 13, 2026. The announcement concerns the macOS version and not any way to access ChatGPT in general.
In a demo, the system found the last document the user had edited, checked if it had been shared via Slack, and created a recap of the morning's activity. The example shows how an action history can act as a personal working memory.
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What Computer History records on macOS
The feature relies on interaction events, which are actions that show how apps and websites were used. The Verge reports clicks and keystrokes, which can help ChatGPT understand the flow of a task, not just the final file.
OpenAI claims that no screenshots, screen videos, microphone input, or system audio are recorded. Private browsing is also not included in history. This distinction differentiates the feature from approaches that rely on continuous screenshots.
However, interaction events can reveal sensitive context: what tools are used, in what order, what documents are opened, and when a task remains pending. For an employee, such a sequence can be as revealing as a single snapshot.
User controls and availability restrictions
Computer History is turned off by default and is optionally enabled. Users can pause it, choose which apps and websites to include, review history items, and delete entries.
The feature is available to Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscribers. In corporate environments, Business and Enterprise administrators must first allow access before members can turn on Computer History.
There is, however, a critical geographical limitation for the Greek audience: according to the release notes, Computer History is not currently available in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland. Therefore, the launch does not mean that the feature can already be activated by users in Greece.
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What it means for privacy
The usefulness of Computer History depends on the quality of the ChatGPT framework, but the functionality itself requires careful configuration. Companies should consider whether event recording could reveal trade secrets, customer data, or internal processes, even without video or audio.
For users, the safest approach is to enable only the apps they need, exclude spaces with sensitive data, and regularly review the timeline. The ability to delete is useful, but it is not a substitute for a clear policy for data retention, access, and utilization.
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The next day for Computer History
The feature points the way toward assistants that don't just answer questions, but remember workflow and suggest the next step. For this to be accepted on a larger scale, OpenAI will need to explain precisely what is stored, where it is kept, and how it is used.
Until more details are available and the EEA restriction is lifted, Computer History remains more of an indication of market direction than an available tool for Greek users. The SecNews technical team recommends that organizations first assess the risk of work metadata and then the ease of automation.
