ChatGPT’s “Computer History” for Mac now works in Switzerland

What happened

On 20 August, OpenAI made Computer History available in the EEA, Switzerland and the UK (ChatGPT Business release notes). A week earlier it had launched in the US only (Cult of Mac).

Computer History is an opt-in feature of the ChatGPT app for macOS. It records clicks, typing, shortcuts and app switches in the apps and websites you allow. It turns them into text summaries so ChatGPT can help you pick up where you left off or find a file. It takes no screenshots and no audio, and skips private browsing (OpenAI documentation).

Why it matters for your business

It could save time for people who juggle many tasks. It also creates a detailed log of what someone did at their computer. That deserves a decision, not a default.

Three points from OpenAI’s own documentation stand out:

• Raw event files are kept on the Mac for up to 48 hours and sent to OpenAI to be turned into summaries. OpenAI says it does not keep them after processing, unless the law requires it, and does not train on them.
• The summaries stay on the Mac until deleted, and are not encrypted by the feature. Other programs running under the same user may be able to read them.
• OpenAI warns of “prompt injection risk”: a malicious website or document could try to slip instructions into ChatGPT through this history.

The Swiss angle

OpenAI’s documentation lists it for ChatGPT Pro, Business and Enterprise, on Mac only. The 20 August release note that opens it to Switzerland is in the Business release notes. In a Business or Enterprise workspace, an admin must switch on Enable Computer History under Workspace Settings, then Permissions & roles, before anyone can opt in.

Under the Swiss Data Protection Act, staff need to know what is recorded, why and where it goes. A log of typing and clicks is sensitive. Keep it a personal choice, never a requirement, and never a way to check on someone’s work.

What to do

If you run ChatGPT Business, leave the admin toggle off until you have decided. If you allow it, write two lines in your AI policy: it is optional, and banking, HR and customer-record apps go on the excluded list.

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Sources

• OpenAI, ChatGPT Business release notes, entry of 20 August 2026: ChatGPT Business release notes
• OpenAI documentation: Computer History
• Cult of Mac, 14 August 2026: ChatGPT just learned to watch everything you do on your Mac