OpenAI is experimenting with new ways to encourage people to open the ChatGPT app on their smartphones. Its latest feature, ChatGPT Pulse, is rolling out in preview to ChatGPT Pro users. The idea behind Pulse is simple: instead of waiting for you to initiate a chat, the AI will start the conversation — offering insights, reminders, or suggestions to help you get more out of your day.
This aligns with OpenAI’s broader goal of making AI less reactive and more proactive. For example, rather than you asking ChatGPT about an upcoming trip, Pulse could nudge you with personalized recommendations ahead of time. It’s also meant to ease the burden of crafting prompts by letting the AI lead the way.
Naturally, this raises some concerns, especially as so-called “promptless attacks” gain attention. Researchers have demonstrated cases where AI has been manipulated to access calendars, apps, or even smart home devices. OpenAI, however, stresses that users will remain in full control of Pulse. You’ll be able to decide what topics the AI covers, what apps or calendars it can pull from, and when it’s allowed to send prompts. According to the company, Pulse won’t flood your phone — it will only send one update per day, typically in the morning.
OpenAI positions Pulse as a tool that “works for you, not to keep you scrolling.” The goal is to make ChatGPT part of your daily routine without overwhelming you with irrelevant notifications. For example, you might ask Pulse to curate local events, deliver sports updates, or round up news for a particular day. By default, these updates disappear at the end of the day unless you interact with them or save them.
It’s an intriguing step forward in OpenAI’s vision for proactive AI. Whether Pulse proves genuinely useful — and avoids the pitfalls of AI errors or overreach — will determine if it becomes a habit-forming feature for users.
