OpenAI has released a new ChatGPT desktop integration for Apple silicon Macs that allows the AI to read, summarize, and send iMessage, SMS, and RCS text messages.

Key Points

• The integration accesses the local macOS Messages database to analyze conversation history and draft replies without requiring official cooperation from Apple.
• Users can enable persistent approval to send messages automatically, though OpenAI warns this carries risks and acknowledges a known defect that may bypass safety prompts.
• The feature is available across all ChatGPT desktop plans, including ChatGPT Work and Codex, but is incompatible with Intel-based Mac hardware.
• Enabling the plugin exposes entire conversation threads, including messages from participants who did not consent to having their data processed by OpenAI.
• OpenAI has not clarified which specific message data is processed locally versus what is transmitted to their servers for model analysis.

Why it Matters

This integration highlights a significant privacy trade-off where users grant third-party AI access to encrypted communications, potentially compromising the privacy of everyone in a conversation. It also signals a deepening competitive friction between OpenAI and Apple, as the feature effectively bypasses Siri to control core system functions on Apple hardware.