OpenAI’s Dots can act on your behalf: What its new AI agents can actually do

OpenAI has unveiled Dots, a new class of always-on AI agents designed to pursue users' goals across applications with limited supervision, as the company pushes further into enterprise AI and competes with Meta in the race to develop autonomous software.

The agents are aimed at a growing demand for AI systems that can handle everyday work without requiring users to oversee every step. Unlike conventional chatbots, Dots are designed to continue working on tasks, interact with other applications and follow up as projects evolve, Reuters reported.

The launch marks another step in the AI industry's shift from systems that primarily respond to prompts towards software that can take actions on a user's behalf. That transition is also raising questions about how much control users should give AI agents and how companies can prevent them from taking unintended actions.

What can OpenAI’s Dots actually do?

Dots can work on projects that change over time rather than simply completing a single prompt, Reuters reported.

For example, OpenAI said a Dot could update a sales proposal as a customer's requirements change and build a working demonstration for review.

Users can communicate with Dots through platforms including Slack and Microsoft Teams. The agents can also use OpenAI's Codex and ChatGPT Work tools to research information, analyse data, prepare documents and build software.

OpenAI's safety documentation says each Dot has its own cloud computer and browser and can use connected tools. Dots can handle recurring work and follow up through ChatGPT, text messages, email and Slack, with the ability to delegate some work to subagents.

This means the intended use is not limited to asking an AI a question and receiving an answer. A Dot can remain involved in a task and use connected software and tools as the work progresses.

Dots are designed to work with less supervision

The central idea behind Dots is persistence.