dots glossary

The terms that show up in any explanation of dots, defined in one sentence so you can come back whenever you need them.

dot #: An always-on OpenAI agent that works on your behalf continuously. It has its own cloud computer, its own browser, and credentials for the systems you authorize.
GPT-6 Astra #: OpenAI’s frontier model, which dots run on. The model reasons and decides; the dot is the agent that executes.
dot's computer #: The isolated cloud environment where a dot does its work: files, programs and code. You can open it at any time to inspect what the dot did.
proactive research #: The mode a dot enters when you are not actively working with it. It looks for ways to help using your connected apps, with tools limited to read-only operations.
auto-review #: A check that runs before an action that could affect your accounts or share information. It verifies the action complies with your instructions, custom rules and safety requirements.
custom rules #: Rules you write to allow, require approval for, or block specific dot actions. They sit on top of built-in rules, which are never disabled.
plugin ecosystem #: The set of integrations that lets dots connect to more than 4,000 applications.
specialized dot #: A dot with its own identity, credentials and responsibilities inside an organization. It is configured for a specific area such as procurement or customer service.
usage quota #: The budget for deeper work included in your plan, separate from ChatGPT usage limits. Conversations with your dot do not consume ChatGPT limits.
enabled markets #: The list of countries where OpenAI makes a product available. Availability depends on the market, not the interface language.
activity view #: The panel where you follow a dot’s progress, including background work, and give it new direction.
always-on agent #: A product category that does not wait for a prompt: it runs in the background, has its own computer, and pursues goals continuously. dots, Muse and Grok Bot are the three main ones of 2026.
Muse #: Meta’s always-on agent, introduced in early September 2026. It is dots’ direct competitor, not an alternative name for OpenAI’s product.
Grok Bot #: xAI’s always-on agent, launched in August 2026. It uses one cloud computer per user, shared across all their bots, unlike dots, which gives each agent its own computer.
GPT-6.1 Astra #: A later version of the model that powers dots, which OpenAI decided not to ship over safety concerns reported on 28 September 2026. Not to be confused with GPT-6 Astra.
Astra Ultrafast #: The higher-speed mode included with ChatGPT’s Pro 500 tier, the $500 per month plan.
prompt injection #: A technique where a website, email or document carries instructions to trick the agent into doing something you did not ask for. Encountered content does not grant permission on its own.
EEA #: European Economic Area: the 27 European Union member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. One of the markets excluded from the dots Pro plan.
Microsoft Agent 365 #: A Microsoft platform that OpenAI is integrating specialized dots with, so enterprises can manage them using governance and security controls they already have.