CHATGPT MAC APP GAINS MESSAGE SENDING AND ANALYSIS FEATURE

OpenAI has launched a new feature for the ChatGPT Mac app that allows the chatbot to send and read messages on a user's behalf. The update includes native integration with Apple's iMessage service, enabling users to search messages, catch up on conversations, and draft and send replies through ChatGPT. The feature also allows ChatGPT to analyse a user's messages to provide insights about their communication patterns and contacts. OpenAI stated that the feature must be explicitly enabled and requires permission before any specific message is sent, though users can disable this permission requirement if they choose.

The Mac app update brings broader improvements to conversation synchronisation between Mac and iPhone devices. According to OpenAI's announcement, the tool makes it "easier" to have "everyday conversations" and can be used both personally and professionally through integration with ChatGPT Work and Codex. The company provided an example of a user requesting ChatGPT to write a poem and send it to a friend, suggesting potential applications beyond routine messaging.

The feature presents potential friction between OpenAI and Apple. Apple has publicly emphasised user privacy protections for messages, stating when it revealed a new version of Siri that no data used to understand or write messages would leave the iPhone itself. The two companies have previously engaged in legal dispute, with OpenAI facing claims that it stole trade secrets from Apple. The rollout timing and Apple's response to the messaging integration remain unclear, though the feature is now available in the latest ChatGPT Mac app version.