OpenAI's New 'Dots' AI Works for You in the Background
This could save you hours by handling tasks while you sleep.
OpenAI just unveiled Dots, a new kind of AI that goes beyond answering prompts. Dots have their own cloud computers, can connect to the apps people use every day, and can keep working toward a goal in the background—potentially giving AI far greater access to our work and digital lives.
Alexander Embiricos, product lead for Dots at OpenAI, will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, in a session called "What Comes After the Chatbot?" That increased autonomy raises harder questions: How much control are we willing to hand over to an AI agent? What should it be allowed to do without asking? And can companies like OpenAI earn enough trust for people to use them?
- Dots are AI agents that work on their own in the background, unlike chatbots that only respond when asked.
- They can connect to your apps and have their own cloud computers, giving them more power to help you.
- The product lead will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 about the future of AI and privacy concerns.
Why It Matters
This could save you time by automating tasks, but also raises privacy risks as AI gains access to your digital life.