OpenAI rolled out Computer History, a Mac-only add-on that records every app you open, website you visit, and file you edit, then shows the data as a visual timeline in the ChatGPT sidebar. The feature can also export the log as JSON or CSV, letting you ask ChatGPT to draft status reports or locate missing work.
What the feature does
Computer History runs silently in the background, watching window switches and URL changes. Each event gets a timestamp and the name of the application or site involved. You see a chronological view of your activity and can pull the raw data into other tools. The goal is a “second brain” that stitches together a day’s work without manual note-taking.
How it works
- Background tracking – The tool watches window focus and browser address-bar updates.
- Timestamped entries – Every change logs a precise time.
- Sidebar display – The timeline lives inside the ChatGPT interface for quick reference.
- Export options – You can download the entire log as JSON or CSV for external analysis.
OpenAI says all processing happens on the Mac; the data stays local unless you opt into a sync feature that pushes the log to the cloud.
Privacy and security implications
The convenience comes with a detailed map of professional and personal habits.
OpenAI provides several controls to mitigate risk:
- Toggle tracking – A switch in Settings lets you pause collection at any time.
- Selective deletion – Remove individual entries or wipe the whole history with one click.
- Auto-delete rule – Set the log to erase itself after 30 days.
- FileVault recommendation – Enabling macOS’s built-in disk encryption adds an extra layer of protection.
Enterprise considerations
Companies with strict data-handling policies may find the feature at odds with compliance requirements. Enterprises must decide whether the productivity boost outweighs the risk of internal data leakage.