OpenAI launches always-on "Dots" agents, GPT-6.1 Sol, Pro 500 plan

What happened: OpenAI used its San Francisco DevDay keynote on 29 September to unveil Dots, always-on AI agents that live inside ChatGPT and run on their own cloud computer. Sam Altman led the announcement of more than 20 products in total.

The details: Each dot runs on GPT-6 Astra, gets a dedicated cloud computer and browser, and works toward user-set goals around the clock. Dots connect to more than 4,000 apps and can be reached via ChatGPT's apps, website, Slack, Microsoft Teams and voice calls. Users can set approval rules for specific actions; password changes always require human sign-off.

The numbers: Dots are free with a ChatGPT Pro ($200) or Business Premium subscription, with extra dots available for purchase. GPT-6.1 Sol costs $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output, roughly a fifth of GPT-6 Astra's price. On the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, Sol scored 52 against Claude Opus 5.5's 58, but at about $0.72 per task versus $5.98.

Why it matters: OpenAI is betting on autonomous, always-running agents as the next ChatGPT frontier, not just faster chat replies. Dots directly answer Meta's Muse, launched 8 September, and SpaceXAI's Grok Bot, in beta since 11 August.

The catch: The Pro plan's usage allowance is being cut from 20x to 10x Plus for new subscribers, though existing $200 subscribers keep 20x for now. A new Pro 500 tier at $500 a month offers 25x usage with the new Ultrafast speed tier included.

The context: The launch follows OpenAI's decision, a day earlier, to cancel the release of GPT-6.1 Astra after it failed to meet the company's safety standards.

In their words: OpenAI said of Dots pricing: "Your first dot is included in your Pro or Business Premium plan at no extra cost."

What's next: OpenAI also unveiled ChatGPT Space, a shared workspace for teams and their dots; Pages, co-edited documents with slide exports "in the coming weeks"; Sign in with ChatGPT, launching with 16 partners including Notion and Vercel; and a Sol version of the Ultrafast speed tier, still to come. Enterprise, Edu and Healthcare versions of Dots remain in beta pending admin approval. Full details are in OpenAI's DevDay announcements, with further coverage from Decrypt.