OpenAI has introduced a new feature, "Pulse," to its chatbot, ChatGPT. This feature generates personalized reports while users sleep, helping them wake up with the latest news at a glance. Pulse provides five to ten card-style briefs per day and is part of a strategy to position ChatGPT as a service users want to check first thing every day, similar to news apps or social media.
Pulse marks the beginning of OpenAI's recent shift toward "asynchronous AI assistants." While previously focused on answering questions, the focus is now shifting to understanding the user's context and proactively providing information. "Our goal is to provide everyone with a level of support previously available only to a select few," said Fiji Simo, CEO of OpenAI's Applications Division. "Pulse is the first step toward that goal."
This feature will initially be available as a mobile app tab for Pro subscribers paying $200 per month, with plans to expand to Plus subscribers and regular users later. However, due to limited server resources, efficiency improvements must be made before it can be rolled out to more users.
Pulse reports are structured around content that reflects a user's interests, schedule, and previous conversations. For example, users planning a trip with children can receive travel plans with kid-friendly itineraries, as well as recommendations for specific soccer team news and Halloween costume ideas for the family.
Reports are presented in card format, containing AI-generated images and text. Each card can be clicked to view the full text, and you can also ask additional questions or provide feedback. To avoid overloading Pulse with information, OpenAI designed it to end with the message, "That's all for today."
Pulse also integrates with apps like Google Calendar and Gmail, allowing you to organize important messages in your email and create agendas for upcoming meetings. With the Memory feature enabled, Pulse can also provide contextual information based on previous conversations. For example, if you mention that you enjoy running, it can suggest an itinerary that includes a running route during your trip to London.
Personalization features have also been enhanced, allowing users to customize the information they want or tailor the report they receive each morning with simple feedback. For example, they can request something like, "Summary of local events on Friday."
