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OpenAI Launches dots Always-On Agents as Live Demo Lag Tests Reliability Pitch

September 30, 2026 at 08:56 EDT

AI Agents
Foundation Models

OpenAI has launched dots, a new class of always-on AI agents powered by GPT-6 Astra, as the company tries to move ChatGPT from a reactive assistant into software that can carry out work over time. The announcement at DevDay 2026 came with a promise of persistent cloud workspaces and connected apps, but a lagging live Dottie demo quickly made reliability part of the story.

Sept. 29, 2026 · OpenAI

ChatGPT gets always-on agents

dots are persistent agents powered by GPT-6 Astra, built to work across connected apps and bring results back for review. A lagging live demo turned reliability into the immediate test.

4,000+

apps through plugins

24/7

agent availability

primary dot at launch

20+

DevDay announcements

Astra API price comparison

$10

input per 1M tokens

$50

output per 1M tokens

Output tokens cost five times input tokens under standard GPT-6 Astra API pricing.

How a dot is supposed to work

Connect

User-approved apps and context

→

Delegate

Goal-driven background work

→

Review

Approvals for sensitive actions

→

Return

Drafts, files, PRs, and updates

Why users care

Persistent agents match real workflows: bug triage, launch updates, research refreshes, proposal work, and content drafts.

Why users worry

A delayed live Dottie response highlighted the gap between an agent that can act and one users can trust to act reliably.

Control is the product test

Protected workspaces, read-only proactive research, Custom Rules, approvals, and Auto-review define whether always-on agents become everyday infrastructure or remain a careful beta.

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