OpenAI launches Dots agents to rival Meta's Muse

At its DevDay 2026 developer conference, OpenAI unveiled Dots, a new class of persistent AI agents powered by the GPT-6 Astra model. Running continuously on their own virtual cloud computers equipped with browsers, terminals, and file storage, these agents can independently conduct research, analyze data, write documents, and build software. The launch directly challenges Meta, which introduced its similar Muse agent three weeks earlier. Alongside Dots, OpenAI released a cheaper model called GPT-6.1 Sol, while holding back its high-end GPT-6.1 Astra model due to safety concerns.

Dots integrate directly into daily workflows, accessible via ChatGPT, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. When not actively engaged by a user, the agents perform proactive background research using read-only tools that cannot alter files or send messages. For active tasks, Dots can connect to over 4,000 applications through plugins and hand off programming tasks to Codex. Users can monitor their agent's progress through an Activity View or take manual control of the agent's virtual environment at any time.

To address security, OpenAI implemented customizable rules that dictate when an agent can act independently and when it must request human approval. Sensitive actions, such as password changes, always require human intervention, though Dots can securely use saved passwords without exposing them to the underlying model. For enterprise users, OpenAI is piloting specialized Dots with unique corporate identities and IT-managed computers, developed in partnership with Microsoft for its Agent 365 platform.

Subscribers receive one Dot with their plan, and standard interactions do not count against usage limits, though tasks delegated to Codex or ChatGPT Work will incur normal fees. However, geographic restrictions apply at launch: Pro subscribers in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the UK are currently excluded from using Dots. Business Premium customers face no regional restrictions, while Enterprise, Education, and Healthcare clients can access the feature in beta once enabled by administrators.