A PRACTICAL FIELD GUIDE BY NICKY SAUNDERS

What is
dots?

Your dot is an always-on agent in ChatGPT. It can work toward a goal between conversations, use the apps you choose to connect, and bring back work for you to review.

Your dot has its own cloud computer and browser. Tell it what you’re working on, then keep the conversation going as the work takes shape.

Independent guide · Updated October 1, 2026
MEET YOUR NEW RIGHT HAND01 / dots
Official dots visual from OpenAI
Alfred, a yellow dot character with glassesFelipe, a blue dot character with a beret
Official dots artwork · OpenAI
CREATE THE CONTENT✳BUILD YOUR BRAND✳RUN YOUR BUSINESS✳

01 / WHAT YOUR DOT CAN HELP WITH

An extra set of hands
for the work you do.

Research, make, organize, and follow through.
The available tools determine the exact output.

01

Content creation

Turn a lesson into a carousel. Shape a script into an avatar video. Bring audience questions into your next content plan.

  • Research, scripts, and repurposing
  • Editable designs with a design app
  • Video generation with a video app
Explore creator conversations
02

Brand building

Give your dot examples of your voice, audience, and visual style. Use them to create work that feels consistent across your brand.

  • Messaging and brand-reference hubs
  • Campaign drafts and reusable templates
  • Offer pages and launch materials
Explore brand conversations
03

Small-business work

Pull together the details behind the scenes: replies to review, a clearer week, a project hub, or an order sheet with issues flagged.

  • Inbox priorities and follow-up drafts
  • Calendar-aware planning
  • Research, documents, and spreadsheets
Explore business conversations
It still needs your direction.

Your dot can learn your preferences and use shared memories or recent context. It doesn’t automatically have every past chat, file, or account. Check important work and keep approval boundaries clear.

02 / PICK THE RIGHT PLUGINS

Name the app.
Give the work a home.

“Use Canva” is more useful than “make a carousel”
when you want an editable design in Canva.

Plugins connect your dot to apps you use. You choose the access. These are suggested tools for the examples below, not apps this website connects for you.

1

Find and connect the appOpen ChatGPT Settings → Plugins and find the app. Select Install or Connect when shown, sign in, and review permissions. Older versions may call this Apps.

2

Point to the right placeShare the exact template, page, folder, inbox thread, calendar, or existing avatar. Access and features vary by account.

3

Ask it to check first“Can you access this and do the specific action I need? Tell me about missing access or costs before starting.”

Naming a tool does not grant permission, buy credits, or guarantee a supported action. If a connection or write action is unavailable, use a pasted-text draft or file-based fallback and say what still needs setup.

03 / REAL WORK STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION

“Hey, can you
help me with this?”

Start naturally. Answer the next question.
Give feedback before the work goes out.

How to read these examples

The starters and follow-ups are original examples. “Your dot might ask” is an illustrative response, not a transcript or a claim that the work is already done.

✎ Add a little context to your conversationOPTIONAL

These details stay on this page. They’re included when you copy a conversation starter.

04 / THREE WAYS TO TRY IT

Start with one job.
Make the next turn count.

Have your app connected and source material ready.
Use a small, non-sensitive test first.

Showing this live? Check the connection and any costs beforehand. Keep a finished example as backup. Show the revision as well as the first result. Don’t describe an outline as a completed design or a render request as a finished video.

05 / START WITHOUT OVERTHINKING IT

You don’t need
a perfect prompt.

Open dots
01

Tell it about your work

“I make content for [audience], and I’m working on [goal]. Here’s an example of what I like.”

02

Name the app and the result

“Use Canva and this template. I want a six-slide carousel I can edit in Canva.”

03

Let it ask what’s missing

Provide the page, files, deadline, audience, or choice it needs. Confirm access before you expect work in another app.

04

Give a useful next turn

“Keep the examples, shorten slide two, and make the CTA sound more like me. Show me the revised version before publishing.”

A SIMPLE WAY TO SAY IT

“Here’s the goal.
Use this app. Let’s work on it.”

A useful conversation has a destination, enough context to get started, and room for feedback. You can build the details together.

06 / RECEIPTS & REALITY CHECK

Know what’s verified.

New product. Early examples.
Useful ideas, with the evidence in view.

Creator report / partnered demo means a person publicly shared the workflow. A partnership is disclosed where found. Their results are not independent accuracy tests.

OpenAI example means OpenAI publicly described that kind of workflow. It does not mean OpenAI wrote, tested, or endorsed our conversation starter.

Muse-inspired means we adapted a publicly described Muse workflow into an original dots conversation. Cross-product results are not verified.

Original example means a practical conversation we created for this guide. Treat it as an experiment, and check the output.

Official OpenAI DevDay 2026 Recap artwork

THE LAUNCH CONTEXT

Meet the new way to work.

Dots arrived alongside OpenAI’s DevDay 2026 announcements. Explore the official recap for the bigger picture.

Read the official DevDay recap

Official artwork © OpenAI · Editorial reference

Vendor announcements describe capabilities and examples, not independent performance tests. This guide does not claim every conversation has been run successfully. Features and access may change after October 1, 2026.

Example conversation · The dot response below is illustrative.

YOUR DOT MIGHT ASK

YOU KEEP IT MOVING

AFTER REVIEW, YOU CAN SAY

WHAT DONE LOOKS LIKE

BEFORE IT GOES OUT

Open dotsCheck plugin setup