TL;DR
- Could expand to all users once efficiency improves.
- Pulse creates personalized morning briefs overnight.
- Available first to $200/month Pro subscribers.
- Works with Google Calendar, Gmail, and ChatGPT memory.
- Designed to be proactive, not addictive.
Imagine waking up and having a smart assistant hand you a morning rundown, from key news updates to your day’s agenda.
That’s exactly what OpenAI is rolling out with ChatGPT Pulse, a new feature designed to deliver personalized reports while you sleep.
What Is ChatGPT Pulse?
Pulse is OpenAI’s latest attempt to make ChatGPT less of a reactive chatbot and more of a proactive assistant.
Instead of waiting for you to ask questions, Pulse generates five to ten customized briefs that help you start your day informed.
Think of it as a mix between Apple News, your inbox highlights, and a personalized newsletter but generated by AI, just for you.
How It Works
- Pulse generates reports overnight.
- You wake up to “cards” filled with short summaries, images, and key highlights.
- Each card can be clicked for deeper insights.
- You can interact with ChatGPT to ask follow-up questions or request new reports.
The system even knows when to stop. After a handful of briefs, it signs off with: “Great, that’s it for today.”
This design is intentional, so it doesn’t become another endless scroll like social media.
Why OpenAI Built Pulse
OpenAI’s new CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, explained the bigger vision: bringing AI-driven support that has typically been a luxury for the wealthy into everyday use.
Pulse is part of a broader strategy.
OpenAI wants ChatGPT to feel less like a Q&A bot and more like a true digital assistant, something that works for you in the background.
Who Gets Access First?
For now, Pulse is rolling out to ChatGPT Pro subscribers at $200 a month. It appears as a new tab inside the ChatGPT app.
- Pro plan users → Immediate access
- Plus plan users → Access coming soon
- Free users → Likely later, once efficiency improves
This limited release comes down to computing power.
Pulse is resource-heavy, and OpenAI has admitted server shortages. The company is currently scaling up capacity with partners like Oracle and SoftBank.
Quick Snapshot
| Tier | Access to Pulse | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pro ($200/mo) | Yes (starting now) | First rollout, full functionality |
| Plus ($20/mo) | Coming soon | After efficiency improves |
| Free | Future | No timeline yet |
Beyond News: What Pulse Can Do
Pulse goes further than just news summaries.
It can integrate with your digital life through ChatGPT Connectors:
- Google Calendar → Morning agendas, reminders, upcoming events
- Gmail → Important email highlights overnight
- ChatGPT memory → Personalized suggestions, like meal recommendations or trip itineraries
Christina Wadsworth Kaplan, OpenAI’s personalization lead, shared on X about this feature.
That’s a step beyond what most news apps or newsletters can offer.
The Bigger Picture
While Pulse sounds impressive, it does raise some questions.
- Competition: Pulse could pull users away from news apps, newsletters, and even some journalism outlets.
- Efficiency: OpenAI admits Pulse can be hit-or-miss with computing demands. Some briefs are light, while others require combing through countless documents.
- Future Plans: OpenAI hints that Pulse could one day draft emails, make reservations, or handle tasks more autonomously but that level of trust may take time.
Will Pulse Replace Your News Apps?
Probably not.
OpenAI has made it clear Pulse isn’t meant to fully replace services like Apple News or Substack.
Instead, it’s a hybrid tool, a personal assistant that pulls from various sources while citing links for transparency.
Still, for busy professionals or anyone who feels overwhelmed by the flood of notifications in the morning, Pulse could be a game-changer.
So, should you check Pulse instead of your usual morning scroll?
If you’re on the Pro plan, it might be worth a try.
For everyone else, the feature is another sign that AI assistants are moving closer to being true digital companions not just tools we ask questions.
