OpenAI just introduced a new kind of AI helper called Dots, and it looks exactly like it sounds. The company announced the launch on Tuesday at its DevDay event. 

Dots run on GPT-6 Astra. OpenAI calls them capable, always-on agents built to handle just about anything. 

Dots

Dot acts like a personal assistant that works in the background. You give it a goal, then it keeps chasing that goal without much hand-holding from you.

That sets Dots apart from Codex and ChatGPT, which wait for you to open them and type something. 

Dots don’t tie themselves to one device or one screen. They keep going on their own, day and night.

OpenAI also wants you to make your Dot personal. You start with a primary Dot and give it a name to make it yours. 

Sometime down the road, the company expects teams of Dots to work together for you.

Working Dot

OpenAI shared a few sample scenarios. A software developer could set up a dedicated Dot to watch customer feedback. 

When a bug pops up, the Dot fixes it. When customers ask for a feature, the Dot builds it as needed.

A scientist could do something similar. As new experimental data keeps rolling in, a Dot reruns the analysis each time. It also digs into results that look strange or unexpected.

In both cases, the human sets the goal, but Dot does the legwork.

Dot has integrations that let users message it through Slack, Teams, and other workplace platforms. Text message support is coming soon, too.

You can also launch Dots from Codex or ChatGPT.

OpenAI also has specialist Dots that take on a specific responsibility each. Better yet, you can give each Dot its own identity, credentials, and tools. 

You do that through the systems your team already uses for security reasons. So OpenAI is working with Microsoft to connect Dots with the company’s Agent 365 security controls.

Access

Dots became available Tuesday inside ChatGPT but only to Pro and Business Premium users in eligible markets.

Much of what Dots do was already possible with Codex and similar agent tools. Developers could already build long-running, goal-driven helpers.

So what changed? Packaging. Dots bundle those features into one tidy product. And the focus is on independent action. 

Cartoon Look

Dots wears a bubbly, cartoon-style face that looks like little floating dots. That’s the whole design.

It’s a makeover for OpenAI’s software because companies keep trying to make AI feel friendlier and easier to relate to. Meta recently released its own agent, Muse, with a similar playful style.

A cute mascot feels less scary than a mysterious robot. It might also make people more willing to hand over real tasks.