On August 20, 2026, OpenAI launched an Apple Messages plugin for ChatGPT on Mac that can read, search, and send iMessage, SMS, and RCS messages, always with the user's approval before each send. The integration is available across all plans of the macOS desktop app, including ChatGPT Work and Codex.
The plugin turns ChatGPT into an assistant capable of operating on a user's most personal communications: their message inbox. According to 9to5Mac, the feature lets users draft and send messages, compose replies, and surface information buried in chat history. For the Mexican-American community, one of the continent's largest iPhone and Mac user bases, this kind of integration brings AI into everyday tasks, from responding to family abroad to coordinating plans across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Notably, this is not a remote channel: the plugin does not allow users to interact with ChatGPT from within the Messages app itself; it operates from the Mac desktop.
By default, ChatGPT sends a message only after the user approves the text and its recipients. TechCrunch reported that OpenAI told Bloomberg the plugin runs locally on the device and does not build an index of all messages, though the specifics of that commitment remain unclear. The company advises against enabling persistent approval, as it removes the final review step before the assistant sends on the user's behalf. The feature can also suggest follow-up messages based on what was received the previous day, delete conversations, and search for specific data in chat history. One scope note: for now, it works only on Macs with Apple Silicon chips, not on Intel machines.
OpenAI published a plugin guide covering steps to revoke access, the risks of persistent approval, and a warning about tasks that disable confirmation prompts. For now, how much to delegate to the assistant remains each user's decision.
This article was drafted with AI assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.