›
›
Bottom line: Dots is one of the most ambitious agent launches of 2026: a named, always-on assistant that keeps working after you close the chat. The idea is strong. The price and the regional gaps are what hold it back. If you already pay for ChatGPT Pro, use your included dot. If you don’t, don’t upgrade just for this yet.
What Is Dots by OpenAI?
Dots are always-on AI agents inside ChatGPT. OpenAI announced them at its DevDay conference on September 29, 2026. Instead of waiting for a prompt, you give a dot a goal and some boundaries, and it keeps working in the background.
Each dot runs on its own cloud computer and browser, so it can keep going after you leave. TechCrunch reports it is powered by GPT-6 Astra and can be started from ChatGPT or Codex. You message it in ChatGPT, Slack or Teams, with text messaging described as coming soon.
OpenAI’s pitch is a “continuing working relationship”, not a one-off chat. That puts Dots in direct competition with Meta’s Muse, which launched three weeks earlier, and Google’s Gemini Spark, announced in May.
Key Features
Based on OpenAI’s documentation and launch coverage, these are the six features that matter most:
Flagship
Always-On Background Work
Give it a goal and limits, and it keeps moving between conversations, then comes back when a decision needs your judgment.
New 2026
Its Own Cloud Computer
Each dot gets its own cloud computer and browser, so work continues after you close the tab. OpenAI frames it as independent of any one app or device.
Reach It Where You Work
Message a dot in ChatGPT, Slack or Teams. Texting is planned but isn’t available in Business or Enterprise workspaces yet.
Plugins and Connected Apps
Dots connect to your tools through ChatGPT plugins. OpenAI says it wants to be careful about how agents sign in to services and pay for things.
Approval Gates
Consequential actions need your sign-off. One independent write-up says password changes always require your approval, and OpenAI itself warns dots can still make mistakes.
Pilot
Specialist Dots
For companies, specialist dots can take on a role with its own identity, credentials and tools. This is an enterprise pilot, and OpenAI is working with Microsoft on Agent 365 security controls.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- True always-on design: it works while you’re away
- Own cloud computer and browser per dot
- Works inside ChatGPT, Slack and Teams
- Approval gates on consequential actions
- First dot included in Pro and Business Premium
- Built on OpenAI’s flagship GPT-6 Astra
❌ Cons
- No free tier: Pro starts at $100 a month
- Not available on Pro in the EU, UK or Switzerland
- Extra dots, speed and capacity aren’t priced yet
- Early product: OpenAI admits mistakes can happen
- Business Premium seat price isn’t confirmed on OpenAI’s dots pages
- I haven’t tested it hands-on yet
Pricing and Access Explained
Dots has no standalone price. It comes bundled with certain ChatGPT plans, and your first dot is included at no extra cost. If you want a wider picture of what free tools can do instead, see our guide to the best free AI tools of 2026.
| Plan | Price | Dots Access | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free / Go / Plus | $0 / $8 / $20 | No dot included. | Regular ChatGPT use |
| ProEntry Point | From $100/mo | First dot included. Pro runs $100, $200 or $500 a month by tier. Not available in the EEA, Switzerland or the UK. | Individual power users |
| Business Premium | Not confirmed | First dot included, in all supported regions. Reports put the seat price between $100 and $125 a month. | Teams, and anyone in the EU or UK |
| Enterprise / Edu / Healthcare | Contact sales | Admin-enabled beta. Specialist dots are a separate pilot. | Large organizations |
Dots vs Meta Muse vs Gemini Spark
Three always-on agents launched within months of each other, and “Dots vs Muse” and “Dots vs Gemini Spark” are the comparisons people are searching for. Here is how they compare on the basics. For another take on the “always-on teammate” idea, read our Daemons by Charlie Labs review:
| Feature | Dots (OpenAI) | Muse (Meta) | Gemini Spark (Google) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $100/mo (Pro) | Free, then $20 or $100/mo | Google AI Pro or Ultra plan |
| Free tier | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Own cloud computer | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ~ Inside Google apps |
| Work accounts | ✓ Business Premium | ~ Small business expansion | ✗ Personal Google account only |
| EU / UK access | ~ Business Premium only | ✗ US and Canada | ✗ Excluded |
Muse is the easier one to try because of its free tier, though it has fewer third-party connectors right now. Spark suits people who live in Gmail, Calendar and Drive. Dots is the most expensive of the three, but it is the only one with a clear business and enterprise path. Plan details are changing quickly, so verify on each company’s pricing page.
Performance Ratings
These scores are provisional and based on documentation and coverage, not hands-on testing.
Who Should Use Dots?
✅ Great fit
Existing ChatGPT Pro subscribers have the clearest case: your first dot is included, so you can try always-on delegation at no extra cost. Teams on Business Premium also fit, especially if they already work in Slack or Teams and want a shared assistant with admin controls.
⚠️ Think carefully
If you’re on Free, Go or Plus, paying $100 a month just for Dots is a big jump for a brand-new product. If you’re in the EU, UK or Switzerland on a personal plan, you can’t get it on Pro at all. And anyone nervous about handing an agent access to email and accounts should start with tight permissions. If budget is the issue, start with our list of free AI tools, or if you mainly want an agent for coding, see our Cursor AI review.
Final Verdict: Dots by OpenAI Review 2026
/ 5 (provisional)
Dots is the clearest sign yet that AI is moving from answering questions to doing ongoing work. The design is thoughtful: its own computer, approval gates, and a place in Slack and Teams. On paper it’s one of the most capable agents launched this year.
But a $100 entry price, no free tier, no Pro access in the EU and UK, and unpriced extras make it a hard sell for most people today. My score will move once I’ve used it hands-on.
Recommendation: If you already have ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium, set up your included dot and test it on one low-risk task. If you don’t, try Meta Muse’s free tier first and revisit Dots when OpenAI prices the mass-market version.
Frequently Asked Questions