On April 21, 2026, OpenAI unveiled a new optional research preview feature called Chronicle for its macOS version of the Codex application. This innovative feature constructs a memory repository by automatically capturing recent screen context. As a result, Codex can comprehend project backgrounds, the tools currently in use, and ongoing tasks in subsequent interactions, eliminating the need for users to repeatedly provide explanations. Chronicle operates discreetly in the background, with an intelligent agent organizing screen recordings into concise summaries stored in Markdown format on the local device. Meanwhile, the original recording files are automatically deleted after six hours to ensure privacy and efficiency.

At present, this feature is exclusively accessible to ChatGPT Pro subscribers and is not available in the EU, UK, and Switzerland due to regional regulations and compliance considerations. To enable Chronicle, users must activate both the 'Memory' and 'Chronicle' features sequentially in the Codex settings and grant the necessary permissions for screen recording and accessibility functions.

OpenAI has issued a cautionary note regarding Chronicle, highlighting that it rapidly consumes API call quotas, potentially increasing the risk of prompt injection attacks. Additionally, it stores memory content in an unencrypted format, which users should take into account when considering data security and privacy.