OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pulse transforms overnight research into actionable business insights delivered each morning.
What’s happening: OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Pulse, a proactive feature that researches personalised updates overnight and delivers them as morning briefings. Currently available to Pro subscribers on mobile, Pulse analyses chat history, calendar events, and connected apps to provide relevant daily insights without requiring prompts.
Why this matters: For time-pressed SME owners juggling multiple priorities, Pulse represents a shift from reactive AI assistance to proactive business support. The feature could streamline daily planning, project management, and information gathering, potentially saving hours of manual research and organisation for small business operators.
Small business owners spend countless hours each morning catching up on emails, checking calendars, and planning their day. OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Pulse feature aims to change that by doing the groundwork overnight.
Launched as a preview for ChatGPT Pro users on mobile devices, Pulse represents a fundamental shift in how AI assistants operate. Rather than waiting for questions, the system proactively conducts research and delivers personalised briefings each morning.
“We’re building ChatGPT to help you reach your goals,” OpenAI stated in announcing the feature. “Today we’re releasing a preview of ChatGPT Pulse to Pro users on mobile. Pulse is a new experience where ChatGPT proactively does research to deliver personalised updates based on your chats, feedback, and connected apps like your calendar.”
How Pulse works overnight
The system operates while users sleep, synthesising information from conversation history, user feedback, and connected applications. For business users, this could mean waking up to meeting preparation materials, project follow-ups, or industry updates tailored to their specific needs.
When users connect Gmail and Google Calendar, Pulse can generate meeting agendas, remind about important deadlines, or surface location-specific recommendations for business trips. These integrations remain optional and can be disabled at any time through settings.
The updates appear as visual cards that can be quickly scanned or expanded for detailed information. Each briefing is available for that day only unless saved as a chat or used as the basis for follow-up questions.
Business applications emerge
For SME owners, Pulse’s potential applications extend beyond basic scheduling. The system might research industry developments relevant to their business, compile competitive intelligence, or suggest solutions to ongoing challenges discussed in previous conversations.
Early feedback from testing suggests the feature becomes more valuable as users provide specific guidance about their preferences and priorities. Business users can request regular updates on particular topics, such as weekly industry news roundups or daily operational reminders.
“You can ask for what you’d like ChatGPT to research for you each day,” OpenAI explained. “Tap ‘curate’ to request what you want to see in future editions—ask for a Friday roundup of local events, tips for learning a new skill, or something specific like ‘focus on professional tennis updates tomorrow.'”
The feature also includes feedback mechanisms, allowing users to guide future content through simple thumbs up or down ratings.
Privacy and control options
OpenAI has built multiple privacy controls into Pulse, addressing concerns about AI access to personal and business data. App integrations are disabled by default, requiring explicit user permission to connect external services.
Users maintain full control over what information Pulse can access and can modify or revoke permissions at any time. The system also includes safety checks to prevent display of harmful content that violates OpenAI’s policies.
All content passes through these safety filters before appearing in daily briefings, providing an additional layer of protection for business users concerned about inappropriate or irrelevant information.
Getting started guide
ChatGPT Pulse is currently available as a preview feature for Pro subscribers using the mobile app. OpenAI plans to expand availability to Plus subscribers before eventually making it accessible to all users.
To access Pulse, Pro users need to update their ChatGPT mobile app and look for the new Pulse section. Initial setup involves connecting preferred apps and providing feedback about desired content types.
OpenAI recommends users spend time curating their preferences to improve the feature’s relevance. This might involve specifying business focus areas, preferred update timing, or particular types of information most valuable for daily operations.
The company acknowledges Pulse is still in preview and may occasionally provide irrelevant suggestions. However, the system learns from user feedback and improves over time.
“By combining conversation, memory, and connected apps, ChatGPT is moving from answering questions to a proactive assistant that works on your behalf,” OpenAI stated. “Over time, we envision AI systems that can research, plan, and take helpful actions for you, based on your direction, so that progress happens even when you are not asking.”
The feature represents an early step toward more autonomous AI assistants that could eventually handle complex business tasks without constant human direction, potentially transforming how SME owners manage their daily operations.
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