OpenAI introduced Dots, which it describes as “remarkably capable, always-on agents built to handle everything.” Dots can be launched from ChatGPT or Codex, among other channels, and work in the background on accomplishing tasks a user sets with minimal oversight, rather than waiting for the user to prompt them.
Basically, Dots are a more adorable version of Meta’s Muse agents. And I’ve got to admit, OpenAI absolutely nailed the branding with Dots. They’re like the gumballs of agentic AI. If they were real, physical objects, they’d be a choking hazard because I’d want to put them in my mouth.
The big difference at launch between Meta’s and OpenAI’s agents is that Dots are focused on work tasks initially, while Muse launched more aimed at consumers. However, read Story #8 below because that’s changing quickly.
The examples OpenAI gave of what Dots can do include investigating bugs, turning designs into working apps, preparing and sending invoices once they’re approved, and cutting interview clips, show notes, and social posts for creators.
OpenAI said in its announcement:
“Today, you can start with your primary dot, give it a name, and make it your own. Over time, we envision teams of dots working together on your behalf.”
I named my first dot “Fuck Face,” and his only job is to repeatedly send Meta invoices for work I didn’t actually perform.
Here’s what else OpenAI announced at DevDay:
- GPT-6.1 Sol – a new model for coding and professional work at lower prices, available to all API and paid ChatGPT users.
- GPT-6 Astra Ultrafast – a speed tier that OpenAI says generates text up to 8x faster in Codex.
- Pro 500 – a new top-tier ChatGPT plan with 25x the usage allowance of ChatGPT Plus.
- Sign in with ChatGPT – a feature that lets users log in to 16 partner tools, including Notion and Vercel, with their ChatGPT account.
- Agents API with computer use – lets developers build agents that operate software to complete tasks.
- Better plugin discovery – now with interactive sidebar panels for plugins, a new ranking system, and shareable profiles where users can showcase their Sites and plugins.
- ChatGPT Space, Pages, and Collaborative Slides – a set of team workspace tools for shared knowledge, documents, and presentations, built to compete with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
- @ChatGPT in Slack and Teams – lets team members tag ChatGPT directly in channels.
- OpenAI Marketplace – where enterprise customers can apply their OpenAI spending commitments toward software from 32+ partner companies.
- Codex updates – including cloud development environments, voice-controlled task steering, code review, and security scanning for GitHub repos.
This is the first time I’ve been excited about OpenAI in a while. Dots are going to be a huge success. OpenAI Marketplace is a brilliant way to put OpenAI in the middle of enterprise software spending, as opposed to just on the receiving end of it. And Sign in with ChatGPT is going to help turn OpenAI from a destination into a critical part of your online presence, the way Sign in with Google did. Good stuff all around.
