What are OpenAI dots?
Dots are always-on AI agents from OpenAI. A dot learns your goals and standards, keeps working toward them in the background, and brings you finished work to review, sometimes before you think to ask.
- Powered by GPT-6 Astra.
- Each dot has its own cloud computer and browser and can run 24/7.
- Connects to 4,000+ apps through ChatGPT plugins.
- Reachable in ChatGPT, Slack and Microsoft Teams, by chat or voice call.
- Learns your preferences from feedback over time.
How dots differ from ChatGPT
ChatGPT responds when you open a conversation. A dot is persistent: it holds several projects at once, keeps context across every channel you use, and can message you with progress, questions or decisions. You do not need to manage separate threads or direct each step.
What a dot can do
- Use its own cloud computer, browser and the apps you have connected.
- Research, analyze data, write documents and build software through Codex.
- Work on several projects in parallel and take on new tasks while others run.
- Connect to your laptop, if you allow it, to work directly alongside you.
- Look for ways to help in the background (“proactive research”) using read-only access.
You can open your dot's computer at any time to inspect its work.
Examples
- Developer: turns recurring customer feedback into tested fixes and returns pull requests with videos of the changes.
- Scientist: reruns analyses when new data arrives and updates the figures and explanation in a paper.
- Content creator: turns a new interview transcript into clip ideas, show notes and draft posts for approval.
- Early tester: noticed an unsent invoice, prepared it, and sent it after approval.
Safety and control
Dots follow built-in rules for when to act and when to ask. You can add Custom Rules to allow, require approval for, or block specific actions, and follow everything, including background work, in Activity View. Sensitive tasks such as changing a password always stay with you. Setting rules →
Specialist dots
For organizations, OpenAI previewed specialist dots with their own identity, credentials and system access for defined roles, such as procurement, invoice processing or customer support. They start as enterprise pilots, and OpenAI is integrating them with Microsoft Agent 365.
Known limitations
OpenAI notes that dots can still make mistakes and that consequential work should be reviewed. An early hands-on review from Every reported permission issues, dropped messages and trouble connecting to the in-app browser.