OpenAI announced a new feature called Dots at its DevDay keynote on September 29, 2026. Dots are AI assistants that run continuously in the background and can act across more than 4,000 supported apps. They are powered by OpenAI’s GPT‑6 Astra model and have their own cloud computer that can browse the web, send messages, and perform tasks without you having to type every command.
You interact with a Dot through a chat‑like window that looks like a text message thread. You can also call the Dot from the ChatGPT web, desktop, or mobile app. Dots can join Microsoft Teams and Slack, carrying context from other apps so they know what you were doing before they show up. At launch, each user can create only one Dot, but OpenAI says it will let people run multiple Dots later.
What can Dots do?
OpenAI gave two examples. A developer could ask a Dot to gather customer feedback, build a software update, test it, and then send a short video of the changes. A content creator could hand a transcript to a Dot, have it pick out highlight clips, write show notes, and draft social‑media posts. While they work, Dots send you status updates and ask clarification questions.
Dots learn from each task, so they may suggest new actions before you ask. They also have built‑in safety rules that stop them from acting on their own unless you approve. You can add custom rules to block specific actions, such as making purchases or changing passwords. An “auto‑review” system checks every action against those rules before the Dot carries it out.
Availability and future plans
Starting today, Dots are being rolled out to ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium subscribers. OpenAI is testing “specialist” Dots that focus on particular roles inside a company, like HR or finance. Conversations with a Dot do not count toward the usual ChatGPT usage limits. The company says future updates will let you add more Dots, speed them up, or increase the amount of work each Dot can do each month.
Why it matters
For everyday users, Dots could handle repetitive tasks like sorting emails or drafting posts without constant supervision. For businesses, the assistants promise to automate workflow steps across many tools, saving time and reducing manual effort.
