ChatGPT gets iCloud Mail and iCloud Calendar plugins that can read and send email and create events

What the plugins do

OpenAI added iCloud Mail and iCloud Calendar plugins to ChatGPT on Oct. 27. According to the release note, iCloud users can now connect Mail and Calendar to ChatGPT to find emails, catch up on their inbox, check their schedule and update calendar events. The plugins are available on all ChatGPT plans on the web, in the desktop app and on iOS. According to OpenAI’s help pages, they are rolling out globally and, in managed workspaces, depend on administrators’ app controls. Android is not among the listed platforms.

According to MacRumors, the Mail plugin can search and read iCloud Mail, manage messages and drafts and send email. The Calendar plugin reads, schedules and updates events. OpenAI says both plugins include read-only contact lookup; standalone Contacts and Reminders plugins are outside this launch. ChatGPT can see only the iCloud Mail account, not other accounts added to the iOS Mail app, such as Gmail or Outlook. Depending on the app and settings, ChatGPT may ask for approval before reading information or completing an action.

The ChatGPT account announced the plugins on X with a short demo.

ChatGPT@ChatGPT

Much requested, and now yours to connect: iCloud Mail and Calendar plugins are available in ChatGPT.

Ask ChatGPT to find that email, catch up on your inbox, check what’s next, or update a calendar event. Phew.

Available on all ChatGPT plans on web, desktop, and iOS.

How the connection works

The plugins are installed from Settings > Plugins in ChatGPT. Mail and Calendar are connected separately, and installing one doesn’t authorize the other. The connection form takes an Apple app-specific password rather than the regular Apple password, and OpenAI says not to paste the password into a conversation. Mail requires an iCloud Mail address ending in @icloud.com, @me.com or @mac.com, while Calendar requires the primary Apple Account email address, which may differ.

Disconnecting in ChatGPT doesn’t revoke the password at Apple; that has to be done separately in Apple’s app-specific password controls. If Apple revokes the password, or the main Apple password is changed or reset, a new app-specific password is needed to reconnect.

Use of the data for model training

According to OpenAI’s page on connected apps, information accessed through apps is not used to train models by default for ChatGPT Business, Enterprise and Edu customers. For Free, Go, Plus and Pro users, OpenAI may use that information to train its models if the “Improve the model for everyone” setting is on. With Memory turned on, ChatGPT may remember relevant information accessed from apps, and it can also use that information to inform web searches.

MacRumors writes that the plugins give ChatGPT some of the same access to personal data that Siri’s AI features have. ChatGPT already offered apps for services such as Gmail and Outlook. MacRumors’ report includes no comment from Apple.