What Is ChatGPT Pulse And How Does It Work?

OpenAI has introduced a new feature called ChatGPT Pulse, described as a daily stream of personalised updates created through overnight research. The company announced that Pulse is now available in preview for Pro users on iOS and Android.

Before this launch, ChatGPT would need input as it waits for people to ask the questions. Pulse changes this by automatically producing morning updates without the need to type a prompt. These updates arrive as illustrated “cards” that summarise information such as travel advice, dinner ideas or progress on long-term goals. Users can tap to expand them, ask follow-up questions or save the updates as part of a chat.

OpenAI said Pulse is designed to make ChatGPT a more proactive assistant. The feature currently refreshes once a day, meaning the information disappears after 24 hours unless saved. Early access is restricted to Pro subscribers, who pay $200 per month for OpenAI’s top model, with plans to extend it to Plus subscribers on $20 per month.

 

How Does Pulse Work?

 

Pulse runs on asynchronous research where each night, the system looks at past chats, saved memories and user feedback to decide what might be most useful the next morning. According to OpenAI, connecting apps such as Gmail and Google Calendar can add more context, though these integrations are switched off by default.

For example, if someone has asked about growing an urban garden, Pulse may return seasonal tips or highlight which tomato varieties could suit their space. If the calendar connection is active, the system might create a draft agenda for an upcoming meeting or flag a reminder to buy a birthday gift.

Control is given to users through a “curate” button. This lets people request what they want in future updates, such as local events, tennis results or new book releases. Quick feedback tools like thumbs up and thumbs down also help guide what appears next. Pulse remembers this feedback for later use, and settings allow the feature to be switched off at any time.

 

 

Who Tested It So Far?

 

To improve the preview, OpenAI worked with college students through its ChatGPT Lab programme. Feedback showed that Pulse became more useful when people actively directed it on what they wanted to see. One student, Isaac Seiler, explained that he had discussed managing school holidays and train schedules. The next day, Pulse delivered information about timing plans with ticket releases, which he described as something he would not have found on his own.

The company said safety filters are in place to stop harmful material from appearing in Pulse updates. Feedback tools also let users report any content that might break OpenAI’s rules.

While the feature has gained interest among early testers, OpenAI admitted Pulse will not always get things right. Suggestions may arrive for projects that are already complete or topics that miss the mark. The system depends on memory and user interaction to improve its accuracy.

 

Why Does Pulse Matter For ChatGPT?

 

Pulse builds on OpenAI’s previous feature called Tasks, released in January this year. Tasks allowed subscribers to schedule ChatGPT to perform set actions, such as sending reminders. Pulse takes this further by letting ChatGPT decide which research to carry out overnight.

This development reflects a move towards what OpenAI calls “agentic AI” where systems carry out work in the background instead of waiting for a command. Google and Anthropic have also experimented with similar features that perform research and send back reports.

OpenAI described Pulse as “the first step toward a new paradigm for interacting with AI.” The company has plans for Pulse to link with more apps and eventually send updates throughout the day instead of just once in the morning.

While that is still to come, the current version is being tested as a daily tool for users who want personalised, timely updates without needing to start every conversation themselves.