OpenAI clarifies ChatGPT Work cloud and desktop data separation at launch

OpenAI’s official documentation, quoted by Simon Willison, specifies that at launch, conversations initiated in the cloud-based ChatGPT Work will not be visible within the desktop application. This separation is intended to delineate where data resides and how it is accessed. The desktop app’s Work threads and local files are explicitly stated to remain on the user’s computer, indicating a local-only storage model for these components. Additionally, OpenAI notes that Work functionality on web and mobile platforms operates entirely in the cloud, while the desktop app can interact with local files and applications with explicit user permission.