OpenAI has rolled out a new Apple Messages plug-in for its popular chatbot ChatGPT on Mac, enabling the AI system to read, write and send texts directly through iMessage. The integration also allows ChatGPT to search conversations and generate summaries, expanding its functionality beyond productivity apps like Notes and Xcode. OpenAI stressed that the feature requires explicit user consent and runs locally on the Mac, using AppleScript and Accessibility tools to interact with the Messages app. During setup, users encounter multiple opt‑in menus, including a permissions screen confirming that on‑device message history will be accessed.What the new ChatGPT feature actually doesThe new ChatGPT plug-in introduced by OpenAI will enable the chatbot to conduct direct actions within the Apple Messages app. ChatGPT will be able to read, wrote and also send text messages on the behalf of the user. Along with this, it will also be able to search through the existing messages and create summaries or also pull other information out of conversations, effectively giving ChatGPT hands-on access to a core piece of Apple's messaging ecosystem.Why this could be a sensitive move for AppleAccording to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has built much of its brand identity around strong privacy protections, and the company has historically been especially protective of the contents of users' messages. A tool built by a third-party AI company, one capable of processing Apple customers' message data through OpenAI's own systems, is the kind of feature likely to draw scrutiny from privacy advocates and, potentially, from Apple itself. An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the launch.The timing adds another layer of tension: the feature arrives amid an already strained relationship between the two companies. Apple sued OpenAI last month, accusing the AI firm of stealing information related to upcoming Apple products.How OpenAI says it's handling privacyIn response to questions about the new integration, OpenAI emphasised that the feature requires explicit user consent and does not build an index of a person's entire message history. The company said the plug-in runs locally on the Mac itself, relying on existing macOS tools such as AppleScript and Accessibility features to interact with the Messages app, rather than routing message data through a separate indexing system.What users actually have to enableSetting up the integration isn't a single toggle. When a user first configures it, ChatGPT displays a permissions screen explaining that the app will access the computer's on-device message history. Beyond that in-app consent step, users also need to adjust several privacy settings directly within the Mac's System Settings app, including enabling a feature called Full Disk Access. Users must additionally grant ChatGPT permission to access contact names and automation tools, a setup process similar to what's required to enable other AI-based automation software, such as Codex Computer Use.This isn't OpenAI's first foray into pulling personal data from Apple's ecosystem. The company recently added support for analyzing data from a user's iPhone or iPad Health app as well, though Apple's iOS and iPadOS include a built-in permission step specifically requiring users to approve sharing that health data with ChatGPT before it can proceed.