Current guide
Overview
What is Cognardo Workbench?#
ChatGPT is built around conversation. Workbench adds the workspace layer around those conversations:
- Automatic conversation recording — records your ChatGPT conversations as you work.
- Reusable prompts and sequences — saves prompts and multi-step workflows so you can use them again.
- Scratchpads for working material — organizes useful responses, notes, and source material in project containers.
- Citation and hallucination analysis — helps verify AI output against cited sources before you use it.
This matters because:
| Without Workbench | What happens |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT conversations stay disposable | Useful AI work gets trapped inside old chat threads. |
| Prompts are not saved as reusable assets | You rewrite or rework the same instructions again. |
| Strong responses are hard to find later | Good output gets buried instead of becoming part of your workflow. |
| Source-backed claims need manual checking | You still have to verify citations before using AI output in serious work. |
Workbench gives that work a persistent structure around ChatGPT, so conversations can become reusable assets instead of one-off sessions.
Who Workbench is for#
Workbench is built for knowledge workers who use ChatGPT regularly for real deliverables: content marketers, consultants, researchers, founders, writers, strategists, students, trainers, and other professionals who need their AI work to stay findable, reusable, and easier to trust.
Where to go next#
Use this documentation based on what you need to do next.
| If you are… | Go to… | Use this to… |
|---|---|---|
| New to Workbench | Setup → Installation | Install the Chrome extension and pin it to your browser toolbar. |
| Already installed | Getting Started → UI Walkthrough | Learn where the pop-up, floater, sidebar, and management page live. |
| Ready to try the core workflow | Getting Started → First Actions | Insert a prompt, save a prompt, view a recorded conversation, and save a response to a scratchpad. |
| Looking for a specific feature | Features | Find the page for the tab or action you want to use. |
| Trying to understand how Workbench works | Core Concepts | Learn how auto-recording, sync, privacy, active objects, and AI credits work. |
| Hit an error | Reference → Errors | Look up the error message and the steps to resolve it. |
| Checking a shortcut or term | Reference | Look up keyboard shortcuts and glossary definitions. |
What’s inside this documentation#
Workbench documentation is organized by what you need to do or understand.
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Setup | Install Workbench, create or access your account, and prepare the extension for first use. |
| Getting Started | Learn the main UI surfaces and complete the first actions most users need. |
| Core Concepts | Understand how Workbench works behind the UI, including auto-recording, sync, privacy, active objects, and AI credits. |
| Features | Use each Workbench feature from its canonical page, organized by product area. |
| Reference | Look up errors, keyboard shortcuts, and glossary terms. |
Compatibility & requirements#
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Browser | Workbench supports Chrome in the current version. Edge, Safari, and other browsers are not officially supported. |
| Primary site | In-page ChatGPT features work on chatgpt.com. |
| C-Workbench account | You need a Workbench account to use account-linked and cloud-backed features. |
| ChatGPT account | You need a ChatGPT account to use Workbench on chatgpt.com. |
| Local use | Workbench can work with data stored locally on your device. If you uninstall the extension or clear local browser storage before exporting, local-only data may be lost. |
| Internet connection | Cloud sync, cross-device access, account restoration, AI actions, smart suggestions, usage insights, quality signals, and citation analysis require an internet connection. |
| API keys | You do not need your own OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini API keys. Workbench runs AI actions through its own backend. |
| MCP support | MCP support is coming soon. It is not available in the current version. |
FAQ#
Does Workbench work on Edge or any other browser?+
Workbench currently supports Chrome. Edge, Brave, and other Chromium-based browsers are not officially supported.
Is there a free version?+
Yes. Workbench includes a free version with limits on saved prompts, sequences, scratchpads, instruction profiles, AI credits, and export options.
Do I need a ChatGPT account?+
Yes. You need a ChatGPT account to use Workbench on chatgpt.com.
Do I need my own OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini API key?+
No. Workbench runs AI actions through its own backend. You do not need to add external API keys.
Does Workbench work outside chatgpt.com?+
Some Workbench actions work outside chatgpt.com, including web page capture, selected-text actions, and scratchpad capture. ChatGPT-specific features, such as conversation recording and in-page sidebar actions, require chatgpt.com.
Does Workbench record conversations automatically?+
Yes. After you install Workbench and sign in, conversations on chatgpt.com are recorded automatically. Conversation recording can work with data stored locally on your device. Cloud sync is required for cross-device access, account restoration, AI features, smart suggestions, summaries, usage insights, quality signals, and other cloud-backed workspace features.
Can I use Workbench without cloud sync?+
Yes. Workbench can work with data stored locally on your device. If you uninstall the extension or clear local browser storage before exporting, local-only data may be lost.
Cloud sync is required for cross-device access, account restoration, AI features, smart suggestions, summaries, usage insights, quality signals, and other cloud-backed workspace features. To provide these features, Workbench stores and processes your conversation content, including prompts and AI responses.
Data handling: While your account is active, Workbench stores and processes conversation content and usage metadata linked to your account to provide sync, personalization, smart suggestions, and service insights. If you delete your account, account-linked data is scheduled for deletion or de-identification within 30 days. Aggregated insights may be retained only after they are no longer linked to your account.
Is MCP available for Workbench?+
No. MCP support is planned for a future release. It is not available in the current version.