On Thursday, OpenAI announced ChatGPT Pulse, a new “push” feature that generates personalized daily updates for users without having to ask each time. The preview feature, available now for Pro subscribers on mobile, marks OpenAI’s latest attempt to make ChatGPT proactive rather than reactive, with the AI model conducting overnight research to deliver morning updates based on user history and connected apps. OpenAI calls it “personalized research and timely updates that appear regularly to keep you informed.”
ChatGPT Pulse works by analyzing a user’s chat history, saved preferences, and optional connections to Gmail and Google Calendar each night. The next morning, users receive visual “cards” (small illustrated squares with topic summaries that can be expanded for detail) containing updates on topics the model determines are relevant, such as project follow-ups, dinner suggestions, or travel recommendations. Users can provide feedback through thumbs up or down ratings and request specific topics through a “curate” button.
OpenAI says that rather than waiting for users to initiate conversations, ChatGPT now attempts to deliver information preemptively using what OpenAI calls “asynchronous research,” essentially having the model generate queries and responses overnight using traditional methods. Updates appear once daily and disappear after 24 hours unless users save them or ask follow-up questions, which converts them into standard chat conversations.
An example of the ChatGPT Pulse interface provided by OpenAI.
Credit:
OpenAI
Users can also connect Gmail and Google Calendar to provide additional context for what OpenAI calls more relevant suggestions. When Calendar is connected, ChatGPT might draft a sample meeting agenda, remind users to buy a birthday gift, or surface restaurant recommendations for an upcoming trip. These integrations are off by default and can be toggled in settings.
But like most modern AI products based on large language models, which draw from patterns absorbed through training datasets, there’s a catch: Its success rate is highly variable based on the topic at hand. OpenAI says it tested the new Pulse feature with college students through its ChatGPT Lab program, finding that users “started to feel its utility once they started telling ChatGPT what they wanted to see.”
