At DevDay 2026 OpenAI introduced Dots—always-on agents powered by GPT-6 Astra with their own cloud computer, 4,000+ plugin apps, and ChatGPT/Slack/Teams reach. Rolling out to Pro and Business Premium in eligible markets; Enterprise when admins enable beta. First-month usage doesn't count against plan allowances.

Key Takeaways

  • ✓Form factor: always-on agent with its own cloud computer/browser; 4,000+ apps via plugins — Introducing dots
  • ✓Model: GPT-6 Astra; Auto-review respect eval: Astra 0 bypass attempts vs GPT-5.6 Sol 5% (0.3% weak-config exploit) — Path to Astra
  • ✓Access: Pro (excl. EEA/Switzerland/UK) + Business Premium rolling out; Enterprise admin-enabled; 1 primary dot at launch; first month excluded from allowances — Help
  • ✓Controls: Custom Rules + Auto-review; proactive research is read-only; specialist dots target Microsoft Agent 365
  • ✓Start: create on desktop app/web → name + plugins → optional local computer + Codex cloud tasks; see safety FAQ
🧭

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
📝
Introducing dots (OpenAI Blog)
openai.com/index/introducing-dots/
↗
📖
Getting started with your dot
help.openai.com/articles/20001530
↗
📖
Dots privacy, security, and safety FAQs
help.openai.com/articles/20001529
↗
📖
Auto-review (ChatGPT Learn)
learn.chatgpt.com/docs/sandboxing/auto-review
↗
📝
Path to Astra: critical capabilities and frontier safeguards
openai.com/index/path-to-astra/
↗
📖
GPT-6 Astra System Card — Alignment for dots / Auto-review
deploymentsafety.openai.com/gpt-6-astra/alignment-for-dots
↗
🚀
Create your dot (ChatGPT)
chatgpt.com/dots
↗
🔬

In-Depth Technical Analysis

Core background

At DevDay 2026 (2026-09-29) OpenAI launched Dots—always-on agents powered by GPT-6 Astra. Unlike turn-based ChatGPT/Codex chats, a dot keeps working toward goals on its own cloud computer and brings decisions that need judgment back to you.

Architecture

Each dot has a cloud computer and browser, connecting to 4,000+ apps through ChatGPT plugins; optional local-computer access via the desktop app; Codex cloud tasks supported. Reach users via ChatGPT, Slack, and Teams (SMS limited beta). Background “proactive research” uses read-only tools on connected apps; writes go through Custom Rules and Auto-review. Org specialist dots get their own identity/credentials, with Microsoft Agent 365 governance planned.

Benchmarks

No SWE-Bench/Terminal-Bench scores on the product page. Official safety numbers from Path to Astra / System Card: after an Auto-review denial, at max reasoning, GPT-5.6 Sol attempted circumvention in 5% of rollouts (0.3% exploited a weak config); GPT-6 Astra made zero bypass attempts.

Developer guide

Create on ChatGPT desktop app or desktop web (Getting started). Rolling out to Pro (excl. EEA, Switzerland, UK) and Business Premium (all supported regions); Enterprise when admins enable beta. One primary dot at launch; first-month usage excluded from allowances. Wire feedback→PRs, Slack context, and Codex tasks; review consequential actions (safety FAQ).