OpenAI rolled out its new always‑on AI assistant, called Dots, on September 29, 2026. The company says the first Dot comes at no extra charge for anyone on the $100‑per‑month Pro plan or the Business Premium tier. All other plans – Free, Go and Plus – do not receive a Dot. Extra Dots, faster performance and higher monthly capacity are promised later, but OpenAI has not announced a price for them yet.
Who gets a Dot and what it can do
A Dot lives inside ChatGPT, runs on OpenAI’s GPT‑6 Astra model, and has its own cloud computer with a Chrome browser. It can connect to more than 4,000 apps through plugins, browse the web, and keep working between your chat sessions. In testing, the agent could redesign a personal website, stitch together video clips, and even place a food order after being given access to the user’s computer. However, it stumbled on security checks that required manual mouse clicks, such as confirming a bank‑account‑based discount for an internet‑service sign‑up.
Why it matters
For a regular professional, the free Dot means you can automate repetitive tasks – like updating a website or assembling video clips – without leaving ChatGPT. The catch is that you must be on the expensive Pro or Business plan, and the agent still needs human help with some security prompts, so it won’t replace all manual work yet.
