OpenAI launches Pulse, CEO Sam Altman’s ‘favourite’ feature in ChatGPT: What is it? How does it work?

OpenAI on Thursday introduced a new ChatGPT feature called Pulse, designed to proactively deliver personalised updates and research to users.

“Today we are launching my favorite feature of ChatGPT so far, called Pulse,” OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman wrote on X. “It is initially available to Pro subscribers.”

Pulse runs in the background overnight, analysing a user’s chats, feedback, connected apps and stated interests to generate a curated set of updates each morning.

“Think of treating ChatGPT like a super-competent personal assistant,” he added. “Sometimes you ask for things you need in the moment, but if you share general preferences, it will do a good job for you proactively.”

According to OpenAI’s product announcement, Pulse can draw on linked services such as Gmail and Google Calendar to surface relevant suggestions, like drafting a meeting agenda, offering dinner ideas, or highlighting local events.

Each update appears as a visual card that can be scanned quickly or opened for more details.

The company emphasised that topics shown in Pulse undergo safety checks and that all integrations are optional and can be disabled at any time.

Early users can guide the service by giving thumbs-up or thumbs-down feedback, or by requesting specific areas of interest, such as travel plans or sports updates.

Currently in preview for Pro users on mobile, Pulse represents “the first step toward a new paradigm for interacting with AI,” OpenAI said, adding that it plans to expand the feature to Plus subscribers after further testing.

Altman framed Pulse as a glimpse into the future of ChatGPT: “a shift from being all reactive to being significantly proactive, and extremely personalized.”