OpenAI announced that its Computer History tool, formerly based on Recall-style screenshots, now works as an event monitor for user interactions. Instead of capturing the screen every few seconds, the system logs clicks, keystrokes, keyboard shortcuts and app switches exposed by macOS accessibility features. The information is in official documentation released on August 14, 2026.
Computer History turns these events into text summaries and local memory files. OpenAI says the new method reduces the volume of sensitive data captured because it does not store screen images. The decision responds to privacy experts who had flagged risks similar to Microsoft's Recall, which was suspended in 2024 after regulatory pressure.
For production system operators, the change introduces an additional risk: any tool that accesses keyboard and click events, even locally, can expose credentials, passwords and sensitive data entered by users. The previous screenshot approach at least allowed password fields to be masked via native OS APIs. Keylogging, in contrast, captures everything typed before any filter applies.
The Week in Tech understands the swap reduces the surface for image leaks but introduces a more invasive vector: direct input logging. Security teams should review acceptable-use policies for corporate environments and consider blocking accessibility permissions for unauthorized apps. OpenAI did not say whether the feature will be extended to Windows or whether per-app granular control will be available.