OpenAI Releases Chronicle Feature in Codex, AI Can "See" Users' Screens

KOMPAS.com - The artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI has released a new feature named Chronicle for the desktop version of its AI agent application, Codex.

This feature will enhance Codex’s ability to understand context without requiring users to repeat details or provide specific instructions in every prompt.

Previously, Codex relied on a memory feature based on conversation history. However, with Chronicle, this AI-powered application will be able to “see” the latest content displayed on the screen and use it as a reference when users request or command something.

Over time, Chronicle will also learn how users work, including the tools they use, projects they access, and frequently used workflows.

Last week, we released a preview of memories in Codex.

Today, we’re expanding the experiment with Chronicle, which improves memories using recent screen context.

Now, Codex can help with what you’ve been working on without you restating context. pic.twitter.com/b3p8I5eXOy

— OpenAI Developers (@OpenAIDevs) April 20, 2026

Chronicle works by running an agent in the background that periodically captures screenshots to build memory. This data is then used to enhance interaction context.

Although it peeks at user content, OpenAI emphasises that screenshot results are only stored temporarily on the device. The generated memory is also stored locally and can be reviewed or edited by users.

However, it should be noted that this data can also be accessed by other applications on the device.

The Chronicle feature is optional, so users can pause or deactivate it at any time via the Codex application bar.

This feature is now available in Codex for ChatGPT Pro package subscribers on Mac. However, Chronicle is only available in research preview version.

If you are a Pro subscriber and using Codex on Mac, you can activate the Chronicle feature as follows, as compiled by KompasTekno from 9to5mac.