ChatGPT on Mac Can Now Read and Respond to Apple iMessages
OpenAI has introduced a new Mac plugin that connects ChatGPT with Apple’s Messages app, allowing eligible users to search conversations, draft responses and send messages from their desktop. The integration adds another layer of automation to ChatGPT on macOS, while also raising questions about privacy and the level of access required to use the feature.
OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Integration With Apple Messages
The new Messages plugin is currently available to ChatGPT Work and Codex users on Mac. Once enabled, it allows ChatGPT to access conversations stored in Apple’s Messages app when a user specifically asks the chatbot to do so.
In an example shared by OpenAI, a user asked ChatGPT to identify conversations they had missed the previous day. After reviewing the relevant messages, the user then asked the chatbot to draft a response and send it.
The integration could be particularly useful for people who manage a large number of conversations from their Macs, but its access to private communications means users must grant several permissions before it can function.
Users Must Explicitly Enable Messages Access
The plugin is opt-in rather than enabled automatically.
During setup, users must authorize ChatGPT to access the Messages history stored locally on their Mac. They are also prompted to change privacy settings within macOS System Settings and grant ChatGPT Full Disk Access.
Additional permissions include access to contact names and macOS automation tools. The number of required authorization steps makes it unlikely that users could activate the integration unintentionally.
OpenAI says the plugin does not automatically build a searchable index containing a user’s text messages.
Instead, users must specifically instruct ChatGPT to use information from previous Messages conversations before the chatbot accesses a thread.
OpenAI Says Users Remain in Control of Messages
The integration also includes safeguards around sending messages. ChatGPT cannot automatically send a drafted response without the user first approving it.
An OpenAI spokesperson said the company designed the feature around explicit user control.
“We care deeply about user privacy, and the plugin is designed to be transparent and keep users in control of their Messages data,” the company said.
That distinction is important because Messages can contain sensitive personal and professional information. Giving an AI assistant access to those conversations could make everyday communication more efficient, but it also increases the importance of understanding exactly which permissions have been granted.
Questions Remain About Apple’s Role
It remains unclear whether Apple directly collaborated with OpenAI on development of the Messages integration.
Apple has previously restricted third-party services that accessed iMessage without its approval. One prominent example involved Beeper Mini in 2024, when Apple repeatedly took steps that prevented the app from accessing iMessage. Beeper eventually stopped releasing fixes intended to restore the integration.
The history demonstrates the technical and policy challenges that can arise when outside companies attempt to integrate their products closely with Apple’s messaging ecosystem.
ChatGPT Expands Its Role on the Mac
The Messages plugin reflects a broader push to make AI assistants more capable of working directly with applications and information stored on personal computers.
Rather than requiring users to manually copy a conversation into ChatGPT, the integration allows the assistant to retrieve relevant context after receiving permission. Users can then ask ChatGPT to summarize conversations or prepare responses without moving repeatedly between applications.
For U.S. Mac users who rely heavily on iMessage for personal or professional communication, that could significantly streamline routine messaging tasks.
At the same time, the permissions required for the feature mean users will need to decide whether the convenience is worth granting ChatGPT deeper access to data stored on their computers.
For now, the Messages integration remains limited to eligible ChatGPT users on Mac. Its broader significance may depend on how users respond to the privacy trade-offs and whether access eventually expands to a larger portion of the ChatGPT user base.
Jacob Whitman is a contributor at Prudent Press Agency, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. With an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessibility, Jacob aims to provide useful insights and timely stories that matter to everyday readers and the communities they follow.
