OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has referred to ChatGPT’s new feature, Pulse, as his “favourite addition in a long time,” indicating it marks a significant step in enhancing the AI assistant’s personalization, proactivity, and utility in daily life. During OpenAI’s DevDay event in San Francisco, Altman expressed enthusiasm for how Pulse transitions ChatGPT from a reactive chatbot to a tool that operates quietly in the background to assist with users’ daily tasks. Currently, Pulse is available exclusively to ChatGPT Pro subscribers, analyzing users’ previous chats, connected applications, and interests to produce a customized daily briefing.
For instance, when users access ChatGPT in the morning, Pulse could provide reminders about earlier discussions, travel plans from their calendar, or new ideas related to their hobbies or objectives. This feature effectively turns ChatGPT into a digital morning companion, allowing users to check in daily for relevant updates. Altman emphasized that this innovation aims to make ChatGPT more integrated into users’ everyday lives. “It’s an exciting step toward making ChatGPT more personal and useful,” he stated. Pulse is intended to function as an adaptive assistant that not only reacts to commands but also anticipates needs and offers context-aware help.
Users can customize their experience with Pulse by dismissing irrelevant suggestions, utilizing the “curate” button to enhance insights, or linking external applications like Gmail and Google Calendar for more comprehensive recommendations. For example, Pulse could assist in drafting meeting agendas, proposing dinner ideas, or providing study tips tailored to a user’s preferences. When asked about the potential for advertisements in ChatGPT, Altman clarified that there are no immediate plans for ads but did not completely dismiss the idea. He mentioned his appreciation for well-targeted Instagram ads that seem useful, suggesting that a similar approach might be considered for ChatGPT if executed thoughtfully.
“To the degree we can find out cool things to do that actually seem helpful to users, maybe there’s something to do there,” Altman noted, emphasizing that OpenAI would approach any advertising model “with great caution.” Reports suggest that OpenAI initially aimed to make Pulse available to all ChatGPT users but decided to restrict it to Pro subscribers due to the significant computational resources required for overnight data processing. For Altman, Pulse signifies more than just a technical achievement—it represents a move towards making AI more human, intuitive, and emotionally aware. By learning quietly what is important to each user, Pulse aspires to transform ChatGPT into a genuine personal assistant rather than merely a conversational tool.
While the concept of ads within ChatGPT may generate discussion, Altman’s willingness to consider it suggests a future where AI interactions could merge helpful recommendations with monetization, provided it is approached in a user-centric manner. For now, Pulse is dedicated to providing valuable, personalized insights, illustrating OpenAI’s vision for the future of intelligent, everyday AI assistance.