OpenAI says its new Dots agents are meant to take on work that would otherwise require a user to move between applications and manage each step. The company announced the product at its Dev Day event on Tuesday, presenting it as a personal assistant that can pursue a defined goal continuously in the background.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief executive, introduced Dots on Tuesday morning at Fort Mason in San Francisco. The company describes the product as personal agentic assistants powered by GPT-6 Astra, and called them “remarkably capable, always-on agents built to handle everything”.
Dots are designed to connect to apps and carry out multistep tasks. OpenAI said the agents can operate independently of a particular device or interface, with users setting the goals while the agents work with minimal oversight.
The initial release begins Tuesday in ChatGPT for Pro and Business Premium users in eligible markets. OpenAI has not set out the full list of eligible markets, pricing beyond those subscription tiers, or a timetable for wider availability.
Users will initially be able to create a primary Dot, choose its name and tailor it to their needs. “Today, you can start with your primary dot, give it a name, and make it your own,” OpenAI said.
The company’s longer-term vision involves several agents working for the same user. OpenAI said it envisages “teams of Dots working together on your behalf”, suggesting that separate agents could be assigned to different ongoing tasks.
One example presented by the company concerned a software developer. A dedicated Dot could monitor customer feedback, then implement bug fixes and requested features when needed.
Dots enter an emerging market for autonomous AI agents that includes Meta’s Muse. The product is intended to make AI systems more proactive than a conventional chat tool, by allowing them to continue pursuing assigned work across connected applications.
Important details of the service remain unclear. OpenAI has not specified how many apps Dots can access, the technical capabilities of GPT-6 Astra, or the data privacy and security measures that will apply while the agents are operating in the background.
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