ChatGPT's "Computer History": AI Memory & Privacy Concerns

OpenAI has launched a new "Computer History" feature in its ChatGPT Mac desktop app. This opt-in tool records your interactions, like clicks and typing, across allowed apps and websites to build a searchable AI memory. It replaces the previous Chronicle research preview, which used screenshots. Computer History does not capture screen images, audio, or microphone input. OpenAI warns that this feature increases prompt injection risk and stores unencrypted files locally for up to 48 hours. The feature is available for Pro, Business, and Enterprise users globally, but not in the European Economic Area, the UK, or Switzerland. Compared to Microsoft Recall, Computer History sends data to OpenAI servers for processing, while Recall processes everything locally. This new capability raises questions about user privacy and security for its nearly one billion weekly active users.