OpenAI Pulse

ChatGPT Pulse is a proactive personalized briefing feature within ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. Launched in preview on September 25, 2025, Pulse enables ChatGPT to perform asynchronous research overnight and deliver personalized daily updates to users in the form of visual cards. These updates are based on the user's chat history, saved memories, feedback, and optionally connected applications such as Gmail and Google Calendar. The feature represents a shift from reactive to proactive artificial intelligence assistance, as described by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who called it his "favorite feature of ChatGPT so far."

Initially available exclusively to ChatGPT Pro subscribers on mobile devices, Pulse aims to evolve into a core component of ChatGPT, with plans for expansion to Plus users and broader availability. It is designed to provide timely, relevant information without requiring user prompts, such as follow-ups on discussed topics, event suggestions, or progress toward personal goals.

Overview

ChatGPT Pulse performs asynchronous research on behalf of users, synthesizing information from multiple sources including chat history, saved memories, user feedback, and optionally connected applications. The feature delivers five to ten personalized summaries each morning in the form of visual cards that users can quickly scan or expand for detailed information.

The feature marks a significant evolution in OpenAI's consumer strategy, moving beyond traditional prompt-based interactions toward more autonomous agent-like functionality. OpenAI positions Pulse as "the first step toward a new paradigm" where ChatGPT proactively researches, plans, and eventually takes helpful actions based on user direction.

Development and Release

Development Process

ChatGPT Pulse was developed as part of OpenAI's efforts to advance AI from a question-answering tool to a proactive assistant capable of independent research and action. The feature builds on existing ChatGPT capabilities like memory and chat history, integrating them with user feedback and external data sources.

OpenAI partnered with college students through the ChatGPT Lab to gather early feedback and refine the feature. Key insights from this collaboration included the importance of user guidance in making Pulse valuable, leading to the implementation of enhanced feedback mechanisms. Early testing participants provided feedback on its utility for tasks like calendar management and trip planning. For instance, user Isaac Seiler reported receiving helpful updates on train and commute information for a trip to Taiwan based on prior conversations.

Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of Applications, led the strategic positioning of the feature, while Adam Fry, OpenAI product lead, oversaw the user interface design that intentionally limits content to avoid "infinite scroll" patterns common in social media. Christina Wadsworth Kaplan, OpenAI's head of personalization, led the development of personalization features.

Timeline

Date	Event
September 25, 2025	Official announcement and launch for Pro subscribers
September 25, 2025	Sam Altman announces via X, describing it as favorite feature
September 26, 2025	Wider media coverage and user adoption begins
Q4 2025 (planned)	Expected rollout to Plus subscribers
2026 (planned)	Potential availability for all ChatGPT users

Features

Core Functionality

ChatGPT Pulse operates through several key mechanisms:

• Overnight Processing: The system conducts research while users sleep, analyzing their preferences and preparing relevant updates
• Visual Card Interface: Information is presented as scannable cards with AI-generated images and text; users can open a card to get more detail and continue the conversation
• Daily Refresh: Content refreshes every day, with updates available for 24 hours unless saved as chats for later reference
• Expansion Capability: Users can expand any card for detailed information or ask follow-up questions
• Source Citations: Similar to ChatGPT Search, Pulse provides links to original sources for transparency
• Finite Experience: Topics shown in Pulse pass safety checks to avoid harmful content, with demos showing intentional ending after a finite set of cards (for example "That's all for today") to avoid endless scrolling patterns

Personalization Systems

The personalization engine draws from multiple data sources:

Data Source	Description	Privacy Setting
Chat History	Previous conversations with ChatGPT	Required (Memory must be enabled)
Saved Memories	Long-term preferences and information	Required (Memory must be enabled)
User Feedback	Thumbs up/down ratings and explicit curation	Always active
Gmail Integration	Email content for context, drafting meeting agendas	Off by default, optional
Google Calendar	Schedule, appointments, birthday reminders	Off by default, optional
Google Contacts	Contact information	Off by default, optional

Content Types

Pulse generates various types of personalized content including:

• News roundups tailored to user interests
• Meeting agendas based on calendar events
• Travel itineraries with local recommendations (for example suggesting restaurants for trips)
• Dietary-appropriate restaurant suggestions
• Skill learning tips and progress tracking (for example training steps for a triathlon)
• Birthday reminders and gift purchase suggestions
• Sports updates for favorite teams
• Project follow-ups and next steps
• Weather-appropriate activity suggestions
• Professional development insights
• Follow-ups on hobbies (for example urban gardening tips, suggesting new tomato varieties)
• Integration with news and trends for balanced personalization and discovery

User Control

Users maintain control over Pulse through several mechanisms:

• Curation Feature: Users can tap "curate" to request specific topics or types of research (for example "focus on professional tennis updates tomorrow" or "local events this weekend"), submitted before 10 PM local time
• Feedback System: Thumbs up/down ratings help refine recommendations
• Feedback History: Users can view and delete their feedback history
• App Permissions: Connected apps can be enabled or disabled at any time in settings
• Memory Toggle: The entire feature requires memory to be enabled and can be turned off in settings
• Visibility Control: Users can remove Pulse from the main conversation window without fully disabling it

Comparison to Traditional ChatGPT

Key differences at launch (September 2025)

Aspect	ChatGPT Pulse	Traditional ChatGPT
Initiative	Proactive; ChatGPT can "start the conversation" with daily updates	Reactive; responds when prompted by the user
Cadence	Once daily; research runs overnight; brief delivered in the morning	On-demand, within a conversational session
Output format	Scannable visual cards; expandable for detail and follow-ups	Standard conversational responses
Data sources (opt-in)	Chats, feedback, Gmail and Google Calendar via connectors (off by default)	Primarily in-session context unless user enables tools or connectors
Controls	"Curate" topics; thumbs up/down; view/delete feedback history; disable Pulse or Memory in settings	Standard chat controls and data settings

Technical Implementation

Requirements

ChatGPT Pulse has specific technical requirements:

• Platform: Currently available only on iOS and Android mobile applications; not supported on web or desktop platforms
• Subscription Tier: Pro subscription ($200/month) during preview phase
• Memory Setting: ChatGPT Memory must be enabled
• Chat History: Reference chat history must be active
• App Version: Latest version of ChatGPT mobile app required

Safety and Privacy

OpenAI has implemented several safety measures:

• All topics generated by Pulse undergo safety checks to prevent harmful content in violation of OpenAI's policies
• Connected app data (Gmail, Google Calendar) is not used for model training
• Daily updates are automatically deleted after 24 hours unless saved
• Users can disconnect app integrations at any time
• Proactive activity settings are off by default for connected apps
• Interactions may contribute to model improvements if the "Improve the model for everyone" setting is enabled
• Feedback improves only the individual user's experience, not others'

Limitations

As a preview feature, Pulse has acknowledged limitations:

• May occasionally generate irrelevant suggestions or tips for completed projects
• Limited to mobile platforms (not available on web or desktop)
• Compute-intensive nature restricts availability to highest subscription tier
• Accuracy depends on quality and quantity of user data
• Currently English-focused with limited multilingual support

Business Context

Pricing Strategy

The initial restriction to Pro subscribers reflects OpenAI's infrastructure constraints. CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that "compute-intensive" products would be limited to the highest subscription tier while the company builds out data center capacity through partnerships with Oracle and SoftBank. ChatGPT Pro, the plan gating early access to some compute-intensive features, was introduced by OpenAI in December 2024 as a US$200/month tier.

Market Positioning

Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications at OpenAI, positioned Pulse as democratizing access to personal assistant services traditionally available only to wealthy individuals. She stated: "We're building AI that lets us take the level of support that only the wealthiest have been able to afford and make it available to everyone over time."

Competition and Industry Impact

Industry analysts note that Pulse positions ChatGPT to compete with:

• Traditional news aggregation services (Apple News, Google News)
• Personal assistant applications
• Calendar and productivity tools
• Paid newsletter services
• Social media morning routine applications

The feature represents part of a broader industry trend toward "ambient agents" that operate continuously in the background, anticipating user needs without explicit prompting. Coverage described Pulse as a deliberate move toward an AI agent pattern that proactively summarizes news or personal context and then invites action, while keeping the experience intentionally finite each day.

Reception

User Feedback

Early adopters, particularly college students in the ChatGPT Lab, reported increased utility after actively directing the system toward their preferences. One student noted receiving "several logical steps ahead" of their initial conversation about grant planning in Taiwan.

Initial reactions to ChatGPT Pulse have been mixed. Positive feedback highlights its potential as a daily ritual for personalized insights, with users noting surprises from follow-ups on conversations. Some users expressed excitement about its application in areas like cryptocurrency updates and personal development.

Critical Perspectives

Criticism includes privacy concerns, with some users likening it to surveillance or describing the feature as intrusive. Others questioned its necessity or potential for creating echo chambers.

Concerns about echo chambers and mental health are addressed through ongoing reviews by OpenAI's policy and safety teams. Media coverage noted similarities to proactive AI efforts by competitors like Anthropic and Google.

Industry Analysis

Technology analysts have noted Pulse's significance in the evolution of conversational AI, with some viewing it as a paradigm shift from reactive chatbots to proactive digital assistants. However, concerns have been raised about privacy implications and the potential for users to overshare personal information in exchange for enhanced personalization.

Media Coverage

The feature received widespread media attention upon launch, with coverage focusing on its potential to transform morning routines and compete with existing news and productivity applications. Some outlets highlighted the deliberate design choice to limit content and avoid addictive engagement patterns.

Future Development

OpenAI has outlined several planned enhancements:

• Expanded Availability: Gradual rollout to ChatGPT Plus subscribers first, then all users
• Platform Support: Potential web and desktop versions
• Additional Integrations: More third-party app connections beyond Google services
• Throughout-Day Updates: Moving beyond morning-only briefings to deliver updates throughout the day
• Agent Capabilities: Future versions may handle tasks like restaurant reservations and email drafting
• Improved Efficiency: Technical optimizations to reduce computational requirements
• Multilingual Support: Expansion beyond English-focused content

Altman envisions it as a step toward significantly proactive and personalized AI, describing the goal to make ChatGPT a "super-competent personal assistant" that anticipates user needs.

See also

• ChatGPT
• OpenAI
• Artificial intelligence
• Personal digital assistant
• News aggregator
• AI assistant
• AI agent
• Machine learning

External links

• Official ChatGPT Pulse announcement
• ChatGPT Pulse Help Documentation
• OpenAI official website