During a press Q&A held on Monday as part of OpenAI’s DevDay event in San Francisco, Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman offered a notably enthusiastic endorsement of a new tool called ChatGPT Pulse. He described it as his “favorite feature we’ve launched in a long time,” underscoring his personal excitement about the direction it represents for the company’s AI products. In the same discussion, Altman also addressed questions regarding future business strategies for the feature, clarifying that while advertising might one day be integrated, there are at present no defined or immediate plans to pursue that route. His remarks revealed both optimism and caution: optimism about Pulse’s potential to redefine the ChatGPT experience and caution toward venturing into monetization models that could disrupt user trust or satisfaction.
ChatGPT Pulse functions as OpenAI’s newest initiative aimed at deepening personalization within its conversational AI systems. It operates by collecting contextual insights from a user’s interactions—specifically, their chat transcripts and linked third-party applications such as a calendar or email service—to develop a nuanced understanding of their habits, priorities, and ongoing interests. Once provided with this information, the system autonomously conducts overnight research on those topics, compiling a curated “pulse” report to greet the user each morning. This personalized digest might encompass a wide range of practical or interest-driven outputs: a fitness enthusiast could wake up to a refreshed daily workout routine, a language learner might find bespoke vocabulary exercises waiting, a news consumer could receive a tailored current‑events roundup, and even a diner planning to go out in the evening could be presented with thoughtful meal or restaurant suggestions. The overarching vision, as articulated by Altman, is to make ChatGPT an indispensable morning companion—something that users consult almost reflexively as they start their day, confident that it will anticipate their needs and provide relevant, streamlined insights.
When discussing advertising possibilities during the session, OpenAI executives confirmed that internal conversations on the topic are ongoing, though no definitive models are currently in development. Altman was explicit that the team holds no concrete short‑term plans to introduce ads within Pulse. However, he hinted that if advertising were ever introduced, it might take a form inspired by platforms like Instagram, whose ads he personally enjoys for their contextual relevance and seamless integration. This nuance suggested that while monetization through ads is not an immediate objective, the door remains open for carefully curated, nonintrusive promotional experiences that align with the product’s utility and aesthetic.
A further practical consideration influencing Pulse’s rollout came to light during the conversation: the system’s computational demands. Originally, OpenAI’s internal roadmap proposed launching Pulse broadly across all user tiers. Yet, given the high processing power required to analyze user data and perform nightly research tasks, the company opted to restrict initial access to its Pro users. This decision reflects both technical prudence and a prioritization of performance and reliability for a smaller, more manageable audience before future scaling.
In summing up his perspective, Altman concluded with a reflection that highlighted his characteristically measured approach to innovation. “To the degree we can find out cool things to do that actually seem helpful to users … maybe there’s something to do there, but as has been clear, we approach ads with great caution,” he remarked. This statement encapsulates OpenAI’s guiding balance between experimentation and ethics: a readiness to explore new forms of user engagement, tempered by a commitment to ensuring that every addition—whether a new feature or a potential revenue mechanism—genuinely enhances, rather than compromises, the user experience.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/793073/chatgpt-pulse-no-plans-for-ads-sam-altman
