OpenAI's headline launch at DevDay 2026 on September 29 was dots: persistent, always-on agents that live inside ChatGPT and keep working on a user's goals in the background. A week on, they are rolling out to paying subscribers and have become a reference point in the wider debate about how much access personal agents should have.

What a dot is

According to OpenAI, each dot runs on GPT-6 Astra, gets its own cloud computer and browser, and can work toward assigned goals 24/7, often delegating pieces of work to subagents. Through OpenAI's plugin ecosystem a dot can connect to more than 4,000 apps, and OpenAI says dots learn from feedback over time. Users can reach their dot through ChatGPT and other channels; OpenAI lists text message, email and Slack, while BGR's DevDay rundown also cites Microsoft Teams and voice calls. TechCrunch notes that much of this was already possible through Codex, and that dots package it with a consumer-friendly interface and a cartoonish persona.

OpenAI also previewed "specialist" dots that carry specific credentials and tools, and teams of dots working together. TechCrunch reports the company is integrating with Microsoft's Agent 365 security controls for business deployments.

Controls and availability

OpenAI says dots add safety and privacy safeguards on top of ChatGPT's existing protections, letting users set boundaries, follow progress and step in on decisions. BGR reports that custom rules let users approve, block or require permission for specific actions, and that a dot cannot send messages, edit content or control a computer without approval.

The first dot is included at no extra cost in ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium. For Pro, the rollout excludes the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the UK; Business Premium customers get access in all supported ChatGPT regions. BGR reports that Enterprise, Edu and Healthcare workspaces can enable dots after admin approval.

Other DevDay launches

Alongside dots, OpenAI introduced GPT-6.1 Sol, a cheaper model it positions for coding, computer use and professional work at close to Astra-level quality, and Ultrafast, a premium inference tier for latency-sensitive agent workloads. OpenAI says DevDay included more than 20 announcements in total.

Why it matters

Dots put OpenAI in direct competition with Meta's Muse and open-source projects such as OpenClaw in the race for always-on personal agents. That category is also drawing scrutiny: days after the launch, Apple said it will tighten macOS Full Disk Access because of the risks posed by increasingly autonomous agents. How well dots' approval controls hold up in daily use, and how many tasks users actually hand off, will decide whether the product lives up to the "handle everything" pitch.