Sam Altman opened the DevDay 2026 keynote by unveiling Dots, what OpenAI calls “remarkably capable, always-on agents built to handle everything.” Unlike Codex or ChatGPT, Dots are designed to operate independent of any single device or interface, pursuing user-defined goals continuously in the background with minimal oversight. OpenAI demoed Dots designing websites, building slide decks, and managing calendars.

Dots are available starting Tuesday in ChatGPT for Pro and Business Premium users in eligible markets, launchable from either Codex or ChatGPT. “Today, you can start with your primary dot, give it a name, and make it your own,” OpenAI said — with teams of Dots working together as the longer-term vision. Users can message Dots through Slack, Teams and other organizational platforms, with text-message support coming soon.

For enterprises, “specialist Dots” can be provisioned with specific identities, credentials and tools through existing systems, and OpenAI is already working with Microsoft to integrate into Agent 365 security controls. Much of the underlying capability existed in Codex-style agentic harnesses — Dots repackages it as a standalone always-on assistant, OpenAI’s answer to the persistent-agent wave that includes Meta’s Muse.