Beyond ChatGPT: OpenAI Introduces Always-On Dots

At OpenAI’s DevDay event on Tuesday, the company announced the launch of Dots, a new personal agentic assistant powered by GPT-6 Astra. The company describes Dots as “remarkably capable, always-on agents built to handle everything.”

Unlike Codex or ChatGPT, Dots are meant to operate independent of any specific hardware or interface, pursuing user-defined goals continuously in the background with minimal oversight.

In its announcement, OpenAI envisions a variety of ways Dots could be put to work. In one scenario, a software developer deploys a dedicated dot to monitor customer feedback, implementing bug fixes and requested features as necessary. In another, a scientist employs a dot to rerun analysis and investigate unexpected results as experimental data becomes available.

OpenAI takes on Meta with dots

Dots are frontier intelligence that have your back. Powered by GPT‑6 Astra, they have their own compute, learn from feedback over time, and can work towards your goals 24/7. Through our ecosystem of plugins, they can readily connect to over 4,000 apps, giving them the tools to help wherever you need them.

Your dot is always within reach, whether it is through ChatGPT, Slack, or Teams. You can ask questions, explore ideas, and give feedback along the way; or you can simply hop on a voice call when you need to talk something out. The more you work together, the more your dot learns your preferences, how you think, and what good looks like to you.

The magic of dots is when they bring you work done the way you would do it, sometimes before you even think to ask. With dots alongside you, ambitious ideas and projects you haven’t had the time or support to pursue start to feel achievable.

OpenAI also envisions “specialist Dots” that take on specific responsibilities. Individual Dots can be provisioned with specific identities, credentials, and tools through existing systems. OpenAI is already working with Microsoft to integrate into the company’s Agent 365 security controls.

Much of this functionality was already possible through Codex and similar agentic harnesses — but Dots bundles together those features in a new package with a focus on independent agentic actions.

The branding also presents a bubbly, cartoonish persona, similar to Meta’s recently released Muse agent. The little floating cartoons are a makeover for OpenAI’s software and are the latest example of a company attempting to make AI more relatable.

Dots can work on their own

Dots can do nearly anything using their own cloud computer, their own browser, and the apps you’ve connected.

You can open your dot’s computer at any time to inspect its work. Dots can connect to other devices in addition to their own and you can also give your dot permission to connect and use your laptop, where it can then be useful directly alongside you.

Your dot can take a project and run with it, even while it’s working on several others. You can keep bringing it new tasks and ideas without having to juggle separate threads or direct every step.

Dots work where you work

Working with your dot is as simple as having a conversation. You can message or call dots in ChatGPT on desktop, web, and mobile. They can also message you with progress, questions, or decisions that need you.

You can also message your dot in Slack and Teams, with texting coming soon. Start a project in ChatGPT, share context with the working team in Slack, and let your dot follow through. Dots carry context across every channel, so your dot will have the full context wherever you reach it.

Built-in safeguards

Each dot works on its own cloud computer, while your computer and its contents stay separate unless you choose to connect it. For signing into supported websites, dots can use saved passwords without exposing them to the model.

When you aren’t actively working with it, your dot looks for ways to help in the background. We call this “proactive research”. It does this by using the apps you’ve already connected with tools that are restricted to be read-only, which means that they can’t send messages, change app content, or control your browser or computer.

Security safeguards built into dots help defend against malicious instructions and monitor for potentially harmful behavior. If our monitoring system detects a safety concern, it can pause or stop the dot’s work.

Access and permissions

You choose which apps dots can access and can manage their permissions through your existing ChatGPT app controls.

Dots start with built-in rules for when to act independently and when to ask for approval. Custom Rules let you allow specific actions, require approval, or block them. Built-in safety requirements always apply and you can follow progress, including background work, in Activity View and redirect dots as needed.

Specialist dots for your organization

Your dot works on your behalf; specialist dots take on dedicated responsibilities within your organization. Your company sets up each dot with its own identity, credentials, and access to the systems it needs to complete its tasks. As it works, the dot adapts to new information and improves with feedback from your team. OpenAI has build this from from early testing inside OpenAI across procurement, invoice processing, email marketing, customer support, and commercial contracting.

OpenAI is starting with focused enterprise pilots. Their engineering teams will work directly with organizations to define each dot’s responsibilities, the tools it can use, and how people review and approve its work. If there’s work you’d like a specialist dot to take on, OpenAI likes to hear from you.

Bringing specialist dots to Microsoft Agent 365

They’re also working with Microsoft to integrate specialist dots with their enterprise governance and security controls in Agent 365. The goal is to let businesses manage dots through the Microsoft tools they already use.

Get started with dots

Dots are rolling out today in ChatGPT to Pro and Business Premium users in eligible markets⁠(opens in a new window). Enterprise users (including Edu and Healthcare) can try the beta when their workspace admin enables it.

Your first dot is included in your Pro or Business Premium plan at no extra cost. It’s available 24/7 to talk, help you think, and stay on top of what matters to you. Your plan also includes an allowance for deeper work, with extended limits for the first month after launch. In the future, you’ll be able to add more dots, and scale the output of each dot by either increasing its speed or the total amount of work it can take on per month.

Conversations with your dot don’t count toward your ChatGPT usage limits. When you ask your dot to start or manage tasks in Codex or ChatGPT Work, those tasks count toward your usage limits as usual.

To get started, create your first dot in the ChatGPT desktop app or your desktop browser, connect your apps, and let it introduce itself. After the initial setup, you’ll be able to message it in the ChatGPT mobile app.

Beyond ChatGPT: OpenAI Introduces Always-On Dots was originally published in Bootcamp on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.