ChatGPT Can Take Over Your iMessages. But Do You Really Want That?
OpenAI has introduced a new ChatGPT plugin for Mac that allows the AI to read, write, and send iMessages on behalf of the user. While OpenAI claims the data remains local, the feature has raised privacy concerns given the ongoing legal tensions between OpenAI and Apple.
Why it matters
The integration of AI into personal communication platforms raises significant questions about user privacy and the boundaries of AI autonomy.
OpenAI has a new feature that allows its AI chatbot to read your texts and write new ones.
Read full bio August 21, 2026, 7:47 pm ET
OpenAI has launched a new ChatGPT feature that could set off privacy alarms for Apple users. The AI chatbot can now scan through your iMessages if you allow it to. It can also read, write and send texts on your behalf, OpenAI announced in a post on X .
Apple’s iMessage is the native messaging service for iPhones and other Apple devices. The new feature, called Apple Messages Plugin, is currently available only to users of ChatGPT Work and Codex on Mac desktops , not on mobile devices. You can choose whether to add the plugin, but you’ll have to go through several permission procedures before it’s active.
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