Last week, OpenAI quietly rolled out a new feature on ChatGPT’s desktop app for macOS. It’s called Computer History, and it does exactly what the name suggests: it tracks your clicks, keystrokes, and actions to build a timeline of how you work.
If you’re a business owner in North London using ChatGPT to automate tasks, answer emails, or draft content, you need to understand what this feature does and how to control it. I’ll walk you through the practical steps.
What Computer History Actually Does
Computer History turns your actions into training data for ChatGPT. When you enable it, the system learns how you work, suggests automations for repetitive tasks, and can even pick up jobs you left half done. It builds a detailed timeline that ChatGPT references when you make a request.
Sounds convenient? It is. But there’s a trade-off: you’re giving OpenAI a detailed record of your activity. That includes passwords you might type, client information, financial data, or anything else that appears on your screen while the feature is active.
For service businesses in North London, whether you’re in web design, plumbing, accountancy, or retail, that data might include client names, email addresses, project details, and pricing information.
The Real Risk for Small Business Owners
The privacy concern isn’t theoretical. Here’s what happens: ChatGPT’s Computer History captures everything visible on your screen. If you’re working on a spreadsheet with client contact details, a proposal with pricing, or an email thread with sensitive feedback, that data gets recorded.
OpenAI says this data is used to improve the model and personalise your experience. But “improve the model” can mean training data that feeds back into ChatGPT’s system. Your proprietary information could theoretically influence how the AI responds to other users’ requests, or be stored longer than you’d like.
More immediately, data breaches happen. If OpenAI’s servers are compromised, your activity timeline is exposed. For a small business, that’s a serious liability.
Practical Steps to Protect Your Data
Step 1: Disable Computer History by Default
The safest approach is to turn the feature off. Open ChatGPT on your Mac. Go to Settings > Privacy. Toggle Computer History to OFF. This stops any tracking immediately.
You won’t lose any functionality. ChatGPT still works perfectly without it. You’ll just miss the convenience of automated task suggestions, a fair trade for data security.
Step 2: If You Use It, Be Selective About When
If you find Computer History genuinely useful for specific tasks, enable it only when you’re in a clean working environment. This means:
- Close any tabs or windows with sensitive information
- Log out of email and banking
- Clear your desktop of private documents
- Only enable it when you’re performing the specific task you want automated
- Disable it immediately after
This is time-consuming, but it reduces what ChatGPT captures to just the actionable work.
Step 3: Use Separate User Accounts
If multiple people at your business use ChatGPT, create separate user accounts. Each account can have its own privacy settings. This prevents one person’s data being mixed with another’s, and limits the scope if one account is compromised.
Step 4: Read OpenAI’s Updated Terms
This matters more than most people think. When Computer History launched, OpenAI updated its privacy policy. It now explicitly states that activity data is processed and may be retained longer than you’d expect. Read the full policy yourself. Don’t rely on a summary. Your business data is your responsibility.
Step 5: Check Your Browser’s Permissions
ChatGPT’s desktop app needs permission to access your screen activity. On macOS, this is granted under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording. Verify that only the ChatGPT app you trust is listed. Remove any unknown applications.
What About ChatGPT Web and Mobile?
Computer History is currently only on the macOS desktop app. If you use ChatGPT through your web browser or on mobile, this feature isn’t active yet. But privacy risks still exist on those platforms. OpenAI logs your conversations and uses them to train models, even on the web version.
The same principle applies: don’t paste sensitive client data into ChatGPT without thinking about who might see it.
The Bigger Picture: AI and Your Business Data
Computer History isn’t unique. Most AI tools, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, collect usage data. Some are more transparent about it than others. As a business owner, your job is to assume that anything you type into a public AI service could be stored, analysed, or breached.
This doesn’t mean you can’t use AI. It means you need boundaries. Use AI for brainstorming, drafting, and routine writing. Don’t use it for anything containing client names, financial figures, passwords, or proprietary processes without first removing the sensitive parts.
For North London businesses, this is especially important if you handle client data under GDPR. Using a tool that stores customer information without explicit consent could create a compliance issue. If a client asks how their data is protected, you need a clear answer.
What to Do Monday Morning
Open ChatGPT on your Mac. Check your Privacy settings. If Computer History is on, turn it off. It takes 30 seconds. If you’re unsure whether you’ve enabled it, assume you have and disable it anyway.
Then share this with your team. If anyone at your business uses ChatGPT, they need to know. Privacy isn’t just an IT concern. It’s a business risk.
AI is powerful. Using it responsibly means knowing what data you’re sharing and who can access it. That’s not paranoia. It’s good business practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Computer History enabled by default?
No. You have to explicitly enable it. But when you first use ChatGPT’s desktop app, the option appears in your settings. Many users enable it without fully understanding what it does. Check yours today.
Does disabling Computer History affect my ChatGPT subscription?
No. ChatGPT Plus works exactly the same with or without Computer History. You’re not losing any core features by turning it off.
Can I delete my Computer History data after enabling it?
OpenAI doesn’t offer a public way to delete old Computer History records. This is another reason to disable it now rather than rely on later deletion.
What about other AI tools like Claude or Google Gemini?
All these tools log your conversations to some degree. Read each platform’s privacy policy. The pattern is consistent: if you’re not paying for the data to stay private, assume it’s being used to train the model.
Do I need to tell my clients I’m using AI?
GDPR and professional standards suggest transparency is safer. If you’re using AI to draft client communications or analyse their data, you should probably disclose it. Your industry body or solicitor can advise on your specific obligations.
