Apple is adding new privacy safeguards for Mac users as AI agents get more powerful

Apple wants to make sure you know exactly what you're signing up for before giving an AI agent access to your Mac.

The company said in a developer blog post on Friday that it plans to introduce additional privacy controls for macOS's "Full Disk Access" setting, which gives apps permission to read sensitive information, including emails, private messages, browsing history, and other personal files.

"Some developers are using Full Disk Access in ways that could put users at risk, exposing everything on their systems — including files, mail, messages, and even browsing history — without users' full knowledge and understanding," Apple said.

"Going forward, we will introduce additional controls to ensure that users who genuinely wish to grant an app this extraordinary level of access can only do so with very explicit user action," Apple added. "As AI agents become increasingly capable and autonomous, the risks associated with this level of access will grow substantially."

For Mac users, that means granting apps a sweeping level of access will require 'very explicit user action,' without explaining how that will differ from the current process. Apple hasn't detailed exactly how the new safeguards will work or when they'll arrive. The company did not say the changes would apply only to AI agents; it said the risks of permission will grow as agents become more capable and autonomous.