Some tasks never get started because nobody has time to walk them through step by step: the invoice you forgot to send, the proposal that needs redoing when the client changes their mind. dots is an OpenAI agent that works around the clock on its own cloud computer. It connects to the apps you authorize and brings you finished work to approve.
Who this is NOT for
Not for you if your business runs on WhatsApp. According to the page, you can only reach your dot from ChatGPT, Slack or Teams, and texting is still 'coming soon'. It is also not for you if you are not paying for Pro, Business Premium or Enterprise, or if your data cannot leave your office: it works in OpenAI's cloud. If you want to connect your apps with fixed rules, use n8n. If you want private AI, use Ollama.
It was announced on September 29, 2026, two days ago. Every example on the page comes from OpenAI or a single early tester, so nobody independent has measured it yet. The real difference from n8n: in n8n you design every step and know what will happen. Here you give it a goal and the agent decides the steps, which is more flexible but less predictable. The obvious mistake is connecting all 4,000 apps on day one. Look at the invoice case: it prepared the invoice but only sent it after the user approved. Start that way, with a single task and mandatory approval before anything goes out.
Your first step
Open https://openai.com/index/introducing-dots/ and click 'Create your dot'. If your plan shows as eligible, give it a name and ask for just one thing: a draft it does not send without your approval.
The dots (OpenAI) implementation guide
The project belongs to openai.com and it is free: the link beside asks for nothing. The guide to set it up without getting lost is ours: step by step, common mistakes and a checklist. Leave your email and we will send it.
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