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Yes—if you have access to OpenAI’s Record & Replay feature, you can demonstrate a workflow on a Mac and turn it into a reusable skill. You start and approve the recording, perform the task, then stop it and review the skill ChatGPT drafts. It is not described as passive or continuous monitoring.
OpenAI’s current documentation says Record & Replay requires macOS and Computer Use to be available and enabled. Access can depend on your app and workspace, so check those settings before planning a recording. The prompts below are practical examples, not official templates.
What Record & Replay does—and what it does not
Record & Replay is OpenAI’s name for demonstrating a Mac workflow so ChatGPT or Codex can turn it into a reusable skill. The draft can describe when to use the workflow, what inputs it needs, the steps to follow, and how to check the result. You then inspect and refine that draft.
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Record a focused workflow, not an entire work session. Avoid displaying passwords, private messages, customer records, financial details, or other sensitive information. Stop as soon as the demonstration is complete.
Check access and record a workflow
- Open the ChatGPT desktop app on your Mac. Confirm that Computer Use is available and enabled for your account or workspace.
- Select ChatGPT with Work enabled in the switcher, or select Codex.
- Open Plugins, select the plus menu, then choose Record a skill.
- Review the suggested prompt and add useful context: the task’s goal, inputs that may change, decision rules, and what a successful result looks like. Submit it.
- When asked, approve the recording request. Perform the workflow from start to finish on your Mac, using a representative example and avoiding sensitive data.
- Stop recording from the menu bar, recording overlay, or chat once the task is complete.
- Inspect the drafted skill. Correct missing preferences, unclear steps, and exceptions before relying on it.
- In a new chat, ask ChatGPT or Codex to use the skill and supply fresh values for the parts that change. Check the result against the skill’s success criteria.
The available tools during replay depend on the environment you are using. A skill that describes a workflow does not guarantee that every app or action will be available in every session.
Seven prompts to plan, demonstrate, and improve a task
Adapt the bracketed details to your own workflow and the features available in your account. Prompts 1–5 help define or explain the demonstration; prompt 6 is for reuse, and prompt 7 asks for a revision after you inspect the draft.
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Help me decide whether this is a good workflow to record as a reusable skill. The task is [task]. Its steps are usually [stable or variable], and success means [observable result]. Ask me about unclear steps or exceptions first.
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A task is easier to capture when its main sequence is repeatable and you can tell whether it worked. If important steps change unpredictably, identify those decision points before recording.
2. Set the goal before you start
I’m going to demonstrate how I [task]. Watch for the sequence, decision points, required inputs, and what counts as a finished result. The inputs that may change next time are [inputs].
This gives the demonstration a clear boundary and helps distinguish fixed steps from values you will provide on later runs.
3. Explain preferences that clicks cannot show
As I demonstrate [task], note the preferences that might not be obvious from the clicks, including [naming convention], [field defaults], and [decision rule]. I’ll correct or add details after the recording.
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A screen recording can show what you did without revealing why you chose a particular option. State those preferences explicitly and check that they appear in the drafted skill.
4. Define how to verify the result
When you turn this demonstration into a skill, include a final verification step. A successful result should have [observable criteria]. If you cannot verify one of these criteria, tell me what needs review.
Choose checks that can be observed, such as a completed field, a saved item, or a generated report in the expected location. Do not treat an action as successful merely because it was attempted.
5. Tell it what to do when the usual path breaks
This workflow normally follows [usual path]. If [exception] happens, pause and ask me what to do instead of guessing. Include that exception rule in the draft skill.
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Use this for cases where a wrong choice could cause an unwanted change—for example, an unexpected screen, missing information, or a result that does not match the stated criteria.
6. Replay the skill with new inputs
Use my [workflow name] skill for [current task]. This time the inputs are [new values]. Follow the saved steps and report whether the stated success checks passed.
Run the skill with values different from the demonstration. That helps you see whether the draft captures the reusable procedure rather than only the example you showed.
7. Refine the draft after reviewing it
Review the drafted skill against what I demonstrated. Add the missing preference [preference], clarify [ambiguous step], and keep the existing success checks. Show me the revised steps so I can inspect them.
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OpenAI recommends refining hidden preferences after the initial draft. Review changes before using the revised skill, especially if they affect decisions or verification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose the right feature for the kind of repetition
“Learning” can mean several different things in ChatGPT. Record & Replay is the option here for turning a deliberately demonstrated Mac workflow into reusable steps; it is not interchangeable with Memory or scheduled Tasks.
| Feature | What it retains or does | How you use it | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory | Saved memories and relevant past-chat context that may personalize responses. | It can inform responses when relevant; settings and availability vary by plan, region, platform, and workspace. | Useful for recurring personal context, not a recorded sequence of desktop actions. |
| Skills | Reusable workflow instructions; OpenAI says skills can include instructions, examples, code, resources, and scripts. | Ask ChatGPT to use a skill when it applies. Availability depends on eligible products and workspace controls. | A skill holds explicit reusable steps; Record & Replay is one way to draft one from a demonstration. |
| Tasks | An instruction to run once later or on a schedule. | Describe what should happen and when, then confirm the proposed schedule when setting one up. | For timed future work, rather than replaying a demonstrated desktop workflow on demand. |
Memory can also be managed through settings, and custom instructions are suited to stable response preferences. Those tools may help with personalization, but they do not replace the explicit workflow steps in a skill.
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What to expect—and what not to assume
OpenAI’s documentation gives examples such as filing an expense, booking parking, creating a configured issue, publishing a video, and downloading a recurring report. These illustrate possible workflows; they are not evidence of measured time savings or guaranteed success. OpenAI has not provided a directly relevant adoption, prompt-effectiveness, or time-saved statistic in the cited materials.
Before relying on a skill, review its steps and test it with changed inputs. If an interface changes, a permission is missing, or a decision depends on information the skill does not capture, pause and review rather than assuming the replay completed correctly.
Quick Recap
Official documentation
- Record & Replay explains requirements, recording, replay, and tips.
- Memory in ChatGPT describes memory controls and contextual personalization.
- Personalizing ChatGPT (OpenAI Academy, April 10, 2026) discusses Memory and custom instructions.
- Skills in ChatGPT describes reusable skills and availability considerations.
- Tasks (OpenAI Academy, published September 15, 2025; last updated September 4, 2026) describes one-time and scheduled instructions.
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