OpenAI has launched a new feature called ChatGPT Pulse, marking a significant shift from reactive chatbot interactions to proactive, personalized assistance. Available initially to users on the $200-per-month Pro plan, Pulse generates daily, AI-powered briefs while users sleep, delivering five to ten visual “cards” that summarize key updates tailored to their interests, habits, and connected data. These updates include follow-ups from past chats, personalized recommendations for meals, travel itineraries, fitness plans, and event agendas—all designed to help users start their day informed and prepared. Pulse represents OpenAI’s broader push toward AI agents: autonomous systems that work on users’ behalf without constant prompting. Unlike earlier tools like ChatGPT Agent, which require explicit instructions, Pulse operates independently by analyzing users’ chat history, calendar events, email, and connected apps—such as Google Calendar and Gmail—when permissions are granted. The feature is opt-in, with users needing to manually accept data access, and all integrations are disabled by default. OpenAI emphasizes that user feedback is used only to improve individual experiences, not to train models for others. The feature is built around the idea of asynchronous intelligence. Instead of waiting for a user to ask a question, Pulse “keeps a pulse” on what matters to you, researching topics and delivering insights in a concise, visual format. In demos, it has suggested running routes based on a user’s fitness habits, created dinner plans matching dietary preferences, and drafted travel itineraries with meal and activity recommendations. It can also surface important emails, generate meeting agendas, and offer tactical next steps for personal goals like training for a marathon. OpenAI’s leadership, including CEO Sam Altman and Fidji Simo, the head of applications, view Pulse as a foundational step toward AI assistants that can handle complex, real-world tasks—like booking reservations, drafting emails, or managing schedules—without constant user input. Altman called it his favorite feature so far, highlighting its move from reactive to proactive intelligence. However, the feature raises concerns about data privacy, echo chambers, and over-reliance on AI. OpenAI says it has safety filters in place and is actively studying potential risks to mental health and information bias. Importantly, Pulse is designed to end after delivering its updates, avoiding endless scrolling and distinguishing itself from engagement-driven social media platforms. Pulse is currently limited to Pro users, but OpenAI plans to roll it out to the lower-tier Plus plan and eventually all users, pending improvements in efficiency and computational performance. The company is investing heavily in data centers with partners like Oracle and SoftBank to scale up capacity for such compute-intensive features. While Pulse may not replace traditional news or productivity tools, it aims to become the first thing users check each morning—like a personalized, AI-curated dashboard. Its success will depend on balancing personalization with privacy, utility with safety, and innovation with user trust. As OpenAI continues to build toward truly autonomous AI agents, Pulse stands as a bold, early test of what a future where AI works for us—before we even ask—might look like.