After OpenAI launched Dots (GPT-6 Astra, per-dot cloud computer, 4000+ plugins) at DevDay, the personal/desktop agent space has three clear poles: Cursor/xAI Grok Bot (developer teammates + routines), Meta Muse (Secure VM consumer agent; often misheard as “Mate Muse”), and OpenAI Dots (always-on primary Dot). Feature comparison from official docs only—no invented benchmarks.

Key Takeaways

  • ✓“Mate Muse” verifies as Meta Muse (2026-09-08): Meta news + How We Designed Muse; Muse Secure VM + Muse Spark; consumer life/goals agent.
  • ✓OpenAI Dots (DevDay 2026-09-29): Introducing dots; GPT-6 Astra; own cloud computer; 4000+ plugins; ChatGPT Pro / Business Premium; one primary Dot at launch.
  • ✓Grok Bot: Cursor docs — persistent cloud computer, plugins/MCP, skills/routines, multi-Bot; included with paid Cursor plans or SuperGrok / X Premium+ link (Plans).
  • ✓No public three-way official SWE-Bench/Agent Arena bake-off; pick by job: coding/routines/multi-Bot → Grok Bot; consumer life agent → Muse; ChatGPT ecosystem always-on → Dots.
  • ✓Shared pattern: isolated cloud computer + approval for sensitive acts; differ on developer routines/local exec (Grok Bot), WhatsApp/consumer connectors (Muse), plugin breadth + Pro bundling (Dots).
🧭

Finished reading? Explore benchmark rankings & pricing

Real-world SWE-bench scores & $20/mo vs API cost break-even calculator

🏆 Leaderboard→💰 Compare Plans↗
🔗

Project Links & Resources

Direct Access
Direct access to official project resources and documentation
📖
Grok Bot docs (Cursor)
cursor.com/docs/grok-bot
↗
📖
Work with Grok Bot
cursor.com/docs/grok-bot/work
↗
📖
Grok Bot plans and billing
cursor.com/help/grok-bot/plans
↗
📝
Introducing Muse (Meta Newsroom)
about.fb.com/news/2026/09/introducing-muse-personal-ai-agent/
↗
📝
How We Designed Muse
introducing.muse.ai/
↗
📝
Introducing dots (OpenAI)
openai.com/index/introducing-dots/
↗
🌐
muse.ai
muse.ai
↗
🔬

In-Depth Technical Analysis

Core background & industry pain points

Drafting in a chat box is no longer enough: users want agents that keep working when the laptop is closed. Meta shipped Muse on 2026-09-08 (often misheard as “Mate Muse”); Cursor/xAI Grok Bot targets developer teammates with a persistent cloud computer and routines; OpenAI launched Dots at DevDay 2026-09-29. Shared pains: connector scope, approval for irreversible acts, and inspectable background work—marketing slogans are not substitutes for published mechanisms.

Architecture highlights

| Dimension | Grok Bot | Meta Muse | OpenAI Dots |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Computer | One persistent shared account computer (browser/FS/terminal); per-Bot screens | Muse Secure VM + Sentinel gate | Per-Dot cloud computer + browser |
| Connectors | Plugins + MCP; computer-use fallback | Consumer connectors; WhatsApp | ChatGPT plugins 4000+; Slack/Teams |
| Automation | Skills + Routines | Goals + background progress | Always-on goals; proactive research read-only by default |
| Multi-agent | Multiple Bots, group handoffs | One personal Muse | One primary Dot at launch; teams later |
| Positioning | Coding/ops teammate | Consumer life agent | ChatGPT-ecosystem chief of staff |
| Model | Grok family (Cursor/xAI) | Muse Spark | GPT-6 Astra |
| Self-host | Cloud-first; local-exec policy / Self-Hosted workers nearby | Cloud VM; Confidential VM planned | Managed cloud computer |
| Pricing (public) | Included with paid Cursor or SuperGrok/X Premium+ link (Plans) | US free tier + subscriptions | Included with Pro/Business Premium (1 Dot); Dot chats don’t burn ChatGPT limits |

Benchmarks

No official three-way SWE-Bench / Agent Arena / success-rate bake-off as of this writing. Demos are not scores. Evaluate on your workflow: long coding routines → Grok Bot; life goals/WhatsApp → Muse; ChatGPT+Slack always-on → Dots.

Developer getting-started

  • Grok Bot: install desktop/iOS → create Bot → connect plugins/MCP → one successful task → skill → routine (Work, Plans).

  • Meta Muse: US iOS/Android/muse.ai; tighten connectors and send/pay approvals (design notes).

  • OpenAI Dots: create primary Dot on ChatGPT desktop → apps + Custom Rules → then mobile/Slack/Teams (Introducing dots).