Overview
- OpenAI announced Dots at DevDay on September 29, 2026, describing them as named, always-on agents that run in their own cloud computer and browser to carry out tasks without repeated user prompts.
- Dots are powered by GPT-6 Astra and can run continuous background work such as bug triage, document updates, automated tests, and pull‑request preparation while reporting progress to users.
- The rollout is staged and limited: Pro and Business Premium subscribers in eligible markets receive a first Dot at no extra cost, enterprise, education, and healthcare workspaces get a beta that is off by default, and specialist dots are in narrow pilot programs.
- OpenAI pairs the launch with explicit controls including isolated Dot environments, granular permissions, Custom Rules, Activity View monitoring, automatic safety checks, and default opt-out of model training for business workspace data.
- Key features remain pending or limited: texting, multiple Dots per user, paid scaling options, some ultrafast/private inference previews, and working voice demos are not yet broadly available.