Pulse Propels OpenAI Into the Proactive AI Era

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Pulse, a new feature designed to transform the AI chatbot into a proactive assistant for its Pro subscribers. The tool, unveiled in September 2025, delivers personalized daily updates by analyzing user chat history, connected apps, and feedback. Available exclusively to Pro users at $200 per month, Pulse marks a strategic shift toward “agentic AI,” where the model autonomously conducts research and delivers insights without explicit user prompts [1]. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described it as his “favorite feature of ChatGPT so far,” emphasizing its potential to evolve into a “super-competent personal assistant” [5].

Pulse operates by performing asynchronous research overnight, synthesizing data from chat history, saved preferences, and optional integrations with Gmail and Google Calendar. Users receive visual “cards” in the morning, featuring summaries of relevant topics such as project follow-ups, travel recommendations, or personalized dinner ideas. These cards can be expanded for detailed information, saved as chats, or used to trigger follow-up conversations. For example, if a user connects their calendar, Pulse might draft meeting agendas or suggest birthday gifts [1]. OpenAI tested the feature with college students in its ChatGPT Lab program, finding that users began to appreciate its utility once they actively guided the AI [1].

User control is central to Pulse’s design. Subscribers can curate topics via a “curate” button, request specific updates, or provide thumbs-up/down feedback to refine future recommendations. OpenAI also emphasizes privacy, noting that integrations with Gmail and Calendar are optional and that data from these services is not used to train the model [4]. However, the company acknowledges that Pulse “won’t always get things right,” as the AI may occasionally suggest irrelevant or redundant updates [1].

The feature is currently limited to mobile devices for Pro users, with plans to expand to Plus subscribers ($20/month) and eventually free users after gathering feedback [1]. OpenAI envisions future iterations of Pulse connecting to additional apps and delivering updates throughout the day. The company also aims to enhance its agentic capabilities, enabling the AI to perform tasks such as making restaurant reservations or drafting emails for user approval [3]. These advancements align with broader industry trends toward AI systems that operate autonomously within defined boundaries [1].

OpenAI’s move reflects a competitive push to position ChatGPT as a proactive digital assistant, differentiating it from reactive AI tools. While Pulse’s success depends on user engagement and refinement, the feature underscores OpenAI’s focus on leveraging compute-intensive models to deliver personalized, context-aware experiences. The company’s partnership with Apple to integrate ChatGPT into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS further highlights its ambition to embed AI into daily workflows [2]. Analysts note that Pulse’s ability to balance personalization with privacy will be critical to its adoption, particularly as concerns over data usage persist [6].