OpenAI Introduces Dots Always On Agents That Work Between Conversations

OpenAI introduced dots at DevDay on September 29. A dot is an agent powered by GPT-6 Astra that has its own cloud computer and browser, so it can keep working on your tasks after you close the chat. It is rolling out in ChatGPT to Pro and Business Premium users in eligible markets.

The key facts

• Each dot connects to more than 4,000 apps through OpenAI's plugins

• You can message or call a dot in ChatGPT on desktop, web and mobile, and in Slack and Teams. Texting in Slack and Teams is listed as coming soon

• Your first dot is included with Pro or Business Premium, with extended limits during the first month

• Enterprise workspaces can try a beta once their admin enables it

• For Pro, the EEA, Switzerland and the UK are not included at launch

• Free, Go and Plus do not get dots yet, and OpenAI has not mentioned an API

What OpenAI says dots do

The company's own examples are everyday work. Inside OpenAI, dots start investigating when a bug shows up in Slack. Early testers showed one preparing an iOS beta checklist fix, another revising launch emails and a third drafting an enterprise proposal. OpenAI says a dot learns your preferences over time and can act before you ask.

Controls and limits

Because a dot can act in your apps, the controls matter more than the demos. OpenAI lists a few:

• Background research is read only, so a dot cannot send messages or edit content on its own

• Custom rules let you allow, block or require approval for specific actions

• An auto review step checks actions that could affect your accounts or share information

• Sensitive tasks such as changing a password stay with you

• You choose which apps each dot can access, and monitoring can pause a dot if it sees a safety concern

OpenAI also says plainly that dots can still make mistakes and that consequential work should be reviewed.

Specialist dots

For companies, OpenAI previewed specialist dots with their own identity, credentials and access to the systems they need. It is testing them on procurement, invoice processing, email marketing, customer support and contract work. They are limited to enterprise pilots for now, and OpenAI is working with Microsoft on Agent 365 support.

What I am watching

Pricing beyond the first dot is the open question. OpenAI says you will be able to add more dots and scale their speed or monthly workload later, but it has not given prices. I have not used dots yet, so I am waiting to see how the approval rules hold up in real work before trusting one with anything that touches payments or customer data.

Sources

• Introducing dots, OpenAI

• OpenAI just launched Dots, The New Stack

• OpenAI Launches Dots to Capture AI Agent Market, PYMNTS