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Codex for Mac monitors your screen for context — but uploads it to OpenAI’s servers

Codex for Mac monitors your screen for context — but uploads it to OpenAI’s servers
Photo by Fotis Fotopoulos / Unsplash

OpenAI has added a controversial new feature called Chronicle to its Codex for Mac app — a screen‑watching system that periodically captures screenshots, uploads them to OpenAI’s servers for processing, and converts them into unencrypted text “memories” stored locally. These summaries give Codex passive context about what the user has been doing, enabling more seamless assistance without repeated explanations. Chronicle requires a $100+/month Pro subscription, Apple Silicon, and macOS 14+. It is not available in the EU, UK, or Switzerland due to GDPR compliance issues. Unlike privacy‑first competitors that process everything locally, Chronicle opts for cloud processing, raising concerns about data exposure, prompt‑injection risks, and long‑term trust.

Read the full story on TNW →