OpenAI Dots: What They Are, How They Work, Features, Availability and Safety

OpenAI Dots are a new type of always-on AI agent designed to keep working toward your goals even when you are not actively chatting with ChatGPT. OpenAI introduced dots on September 29, 2026, describing them as persistent agents powered by GPT-6 Astra, equipped with their own cloud computers and able to work across connected apps.

The important change is not simply that Dots use a newer AI model. It is the way they work. Traditional AI conversations usually begin when you ask a question and pause when the conversation ends. A dot can instead take responsibility for ongoing work, remember relevant context and continue making progress between conversations.

That makes OpenAI Dots particularly interesting for people who regularly deal with projects, research, content, software, business operations or recurring administrative work.

What Are OpenAI Dots?

An OpenAI dot is an AI agent inside the ChatGPT ecosystem that can be given an ongoing goal rather than only a single prompt.

Each dot is powered by GPT-6 Astra and has access to its own cloud computer. OpenAI says dots can learn from feedback over time and work toward user goals around the clock. Through OpenAI’s plugin ecosystem, they can connect with more than 4,000 apps.

For example, instead of asking ChatGPT to research a topic every Monday, you could potentially give a dot responsibility for following the project over time, reviewing approved sources and bringing important developments back to you.

The difference can be summarized simply:

Regular ChatGPT conversation	OpenAI Dot
Usually starts with your prompt	Can handle ongoing responsibilities
Focuses on the current conversation	Keeps context across ongoing work
You normally direct each new step	Can determine useful next steps
Mainly responds when contacted	Can perform scheduled and proactive work
Useful for individual tasks	Better suited to continuing workflows

A dot is therefore closer to a persistent digital assistant or AI teammate than a traditional chatbot.

How Do OpenAI Dots Work?

Users give their dot a goal, relevant information and permission to use selected tools. The agent can then break a larger objective into smaller steps and continue working while bringing important decisions back to the user.

OpenAI says a dot can work on several projects and accept new tasks without requiring users to manage a separate conversation for every step. Users can also open the dot’s cloud computer to inspect what it is doing.

A typical workflow could look like this:

1. You explain the outcome you want.
2. You connect only the apps needed for the task.
3. You define actions the dot can take independently.
4. The dot gathers information or completes work.
5. It asks for approval when required.
6. You review the result and provide feedback.

That feedback can help the dot understand your preferences and standards over time.

What Can OpenAI Dots Do?

The most useful applications involve work that continues to change rather than a one-time question.

OpenAI has demonstrated examples involving software development, product launches, research, sales and content creation. A dot might monitor recurring customer feedback and prepare software fixes, update launch materials when a product changes, rerun an analysis when new research data arrives or prepare content from a new interview transcript.

Other practical uses may include calendar review, research projects, reminders and recurring checks. OpenAI’s Help Center specifically says users can ask a dot to review calendars, research topics or remind them about something later.

The important point is that OpenAI Dots are designed for continuity. Their biggest advantage is not necessarily answering a single question better. It is keeping track of a goal and continuing the work required to move that goal forward.

OpenAI Dots vs ChatGPT: What Is the Difference?

The biggest difference between ChatGPT and OpenAI Dots is ongoing responsibility.

A normal ChatGPT conversation is ideal when you want an explanation, brainstorming help, a rewritten document, analysis or another task that can be handled in an active session.

A dot becomes more useful when the assignment lasts longer.

Imagine that you are preparing a product launch. With a normal chat, you might ask ChatGPT to write the launch plan today and return several days later for updated copy.

A dot could instead remain connected to the project. If approved information changes, it could review that change, update relevant work and flag the areas that require your decision.

OpenAI describes dots as agents that can keep making progress between conversations rather than treating every interaction as a fresh request.

Dots therefore do not make ordinary ChatGPT conversations unnecessary. The two approaches solve different problems.

OpenAI Dots and Connected Apps

One major feature of Dots is their ability to work with external services.

OpenAI says its plugin ecosystem allows dots to connect with more than 4,000 apps. A user chooses which connections are allowed, and existing plugin permissions can be shared between dots, ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work and Codex.

That could allow a dot to work with information from tools used for communication, files, productivity or business workflows.

However, connecting an app should not be treated as a minor setting. A connected service may contain sensitive information.

A sensible approach is to provide only the access required for a particular workflow instead of immediately connecting every available account.

What Is Proactive Research?

Dots can also perform what OpenAI calls proactive research.

This allows a dot to look through permitted connected information for useful developments even when you have not sent a new request.

There are important restrictions. OpenAI says proactive research tools are read-only: during this process they cannot directly send messages to other people, modify content through plugins or control a browser or computer. Additional actions still need to follow the normal permission and safety rules.

This distinction matters because “always-on” does not mean the agent automatically has unlimited authority over everything connected to it.

Can OpenAI Dots Access Your Computer?

Every dot already has its own cloud computer.

Access to your personal computer is separate and optional. According to OpenAI, local computer access begins turned off and must be explicitly enabled through the ChatGPT desktop app. Users can later revoke that access.

If local access is enabled, a dot may be able to work with files on that computer, create certain Work or Codex tasks and use the local browser in situations where its cloud browser cannot complete a task.

This is a powerful capability, but it also makes permission management especially important.

Are OpenAI Dots Safe and Private?

OpenAI has introduced several layers of controls because an AI agent capable of taking actions creates different risks from a chatbot that only generates text.

Dots include built-in action rules, Custom Rules and automated reviews for some actions. Users can configure supported actions to be performed without asking, performed when pre-approved, require approval or be handed back to the user. Some core safety requirements cannot be disabled through Custom Rules.

OpenAI also warns that dots can still make mistakes. Consequential actions and important details should therefore be reviewed rather than assuming autonomous output is always correct.

There is also a prompt-injection risk whenever an AI agent reads external websites, emails or documents containing potentially malicious instructions. OpenAI says Dots include protections against these attacks but acknowledges that safeguards cannot eliminate the risk completely.

How Does Memory Work With OpenAI Dots?

Memory is particularly important because a persistent agent becomes more useful when it understands previous conversations and preferences.

OpenAI says a dot can receive memories and recent conversation context from ChatGPT and can create its own contextual memories, including information from connected apps. Turning off ChatGPT Memory stops future memory sharing, but it does not erase information that a dot has already received.

Disconnecting an app also prevents future access but does not automatically remove information already incorporated into the dot’s context.

At present, clearing a dot’s own stored context requires resetting or deleting the dot. OpenAI says this removes its conversations, saved memories and scheduled tasks.

These details make it worth reviewing privacy settings before connecting highly sensitive services.

OpenAI Dots Pricing and Availability

OpenAI says the first dot is included at no additional cost for eligible ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium users. The company has also said users will eventually be able to add more dots and increase factors such as their speed or monthly workload.

A separate standalone price for additional Dots has not yet been announced.

Enterprise users, including eligible Edu and Healthcare customers, can access a beta when their workspace administrator enables it. Enterprise access begins disabled by default.

Dots are currently available only to eligible users aged 18 or older.

The rollout is gradual, so even an eligible account may not receive the feature immediately.

Are OpenAI Dots Available in the UK?

This is an important distinction for UK users.

As of October 5, 2026, OpenAI’s official Help Center says the initial Dots rollout for personal ChatGPT Pro accounts excludes the United Kingdom, European Economic Area and Switzerland.

However, Business Premium availability covers supported ChatGPT regions, while eligible Enterprise organizations can access the beta through their administrator.

OpenAI has not provided a specific date in the cited documentation for when personal Pro Dots will become available in the UK.

Anyone searching for OpenAI Dots in the UK should therefore check current official availability rather than assuming that having a Pro subscription automatically provides access.

How to Set Up an OpenAI Dot

Initial creation currently happens through the ChatGPT desktop application or ChatGPT in a desktop browser. Dots cannot currently be created through the mobile app.

Users follow the onboarding process, name their dot and choose which apps to connect. After setup, users can message an existing dot through supported mobile apps when mobile access is available, while mobile web is not currently supported.

Users can view In progress, Scheduled and Completed work from the dot’s profile. Tasks can also be scheduled, such as asking the dot to check a calendar every morning or perform another recurring review.

The safest starting point is a clearly defined, low-risk workflow. Give the dot one ongoing responsibility, limit its permissions and review the results before expanding what it is allowed to do.

Are OpenAI Dots Worth Using?

Dots appear most valuable for people whose work contains repeated monitoring, updates and multi-step processes.

They may offer less benefit when you simply need occasional questions answered or individual documents written. Traditional ChatGPT conversations already work well for those jobs.

The real promise of OpenAI Dots is moving AI from “help me with this task” toward “keep responsibility for this outcome.”

That is a major shift, but greater autonomy also makes clear goals, restricted permissions and human review more important.

For businesses, developers, researchers and creators with ongoing workflows, Dots could reduce repetitive coordination. For casual users, their usefulness will depend on whether there is genuinely recurring work worth delegating.

OpenAI Dots are therefore best understood not as another chatbot feature, but as an attempt to turn ChatGPT into a persistent agent that can remain involved in projects long after an individual conversation ends.

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FAQ

What are OpenAI Dots?

OpenAI Dots are always-on AI agents that can handle ongoing responsibilities, work across approved apps and continue making progress between ChatGPT conversations. They are powered by GPT-6 Astra and have their own cloud computers.

What model powers OpenAI Dots?

OpenAI Dots are powered by GPT-6 Astra, according to OpenAI’s official announcement and Help Center documentation.

Are OpenAI Dots free?

There is no separate charge for the first dot on eligible Pro or Business Premium plans. OpenAI has said additional dots and options for scaling their workload will arrive in the future.

Are OpenAI Dots available in the UK?

For personal Pro users, no at the initial rollout. As of October 5, 2026, OpenAI says Pro availability excludes the UK, EEA and Switzerland. Business Premium is available across supported ChatGPT regions.

Can OpenAI Dots access my files and computer?

A dot has its own cloud computer by default. Access to your local computer is optional, begins disabled and must be explicitly enabled through the ChatGPT desktop app.

What is the difference between OpenAI Dots and normal ChatGPT?

Normal ChatGPT conversations are generally user-initiated interactions. A dot is designed to maintain ongoing responsibility, remember relevant context and continue making progress between conversations.