OpenAI Adds Computer History Logging and Google Drive Organization to ChatGPT

The Register said Computer History is a keylogging and event-capture system. OpenAI's documentation says it creates an interaction-event stream from allowed apps and websites, including clicks, typing, keyboard shortcuts, app switches, and context that macOS exposes through its accessibility system. The feature periodically turns those events into text summaries and local memory files. It does not capture screen images, microphone input, or system audio, and it does not record private-mode browsing.

The Register noted that Computer History follows a predecessor called Chronicle, which compiled similar histories using screenshots. In contrast, Computer History records input events and stores them unencrypted locally for 48 hours or more, with a brief visit to OpenAI's servers. OpenAI warns in its documentation that “Computer History files can contain sensitive information. They are not encrypted by Computer History, and other programs running as your macOS user may be able to access them.” The company advises users to turn the feature off during communications with other people unless they have prior express consent, and to consider pausing it or excluding apps that contain sensitive health, financial, or personal information. ChatGPT and Codex delete locally stored Computer History interaction events after 48 hours, but data sent to OpenAI to generate memories may be retained longer and reused in future chats.

Separately, OpenAI added Google Drive to ChatGPT Library, letting users select a whole Drive folder and ask ChatGPT to work across all files it contains. TechRadar reported that a senior editor tested the integration on a Google Drive root folder that had accumulated a decade of unorganized files. After asking ChatGPT to identify forgotten items, unfinished tasks, contradictions, deadlines, duplicate work, and files needing action, the system returned results in about 30 seconds. It found numerous files named “Untitled document,” organized materials from several books in progress, collected old invoices, surfaced forgotten idea fragments, and located duplicate files and multiple versions of “household_budget_tracker.”

TechRadar said ChatGPT also suggested a folder structure and, when asked, created folders and moved files itself, such as making an “Invoices” folder and placing invoices into it, all from within ChatGPT. The editor said the integration surfaced the outline of a book started in 2018 that had been forgotten for years. ChatGPT can also keep Docs, Sheets, and Slides from Drive open alongside a conversation while a user examines them. The new Drive features are not available to ChatGPT Free or Go users; they require a Plus, Pro, or Business account.