OpenAI's dots agent can now split work across several of your own computers
OpenAI says its always-on agent tool dots can connect multiple local computers and hand each one a different task, so you can keep working on one machine.
The short version
- OpenAI announced the update on November 9 (US time), as itmedia.co.jp reported.
- dots can now link more than one local computer, not just one.
- Each connected machine can take a separate task.
- dots was announced in September and is built on GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Terra.
- It is offered to Pro, Business Premium and Enterprise users in supported regions.
Why it matters
If you have a spare laptop or desktop, an agent can now put it to work while your main machine stays free. The other side of the coin is reach: every computer you connect is another set of files and accounts the agent can touch, so it is worth deciding what each one may access.
What OpenAI announced
As itmedia.co.jp reported, OpenAI said on November 9 (US time) that dots can now connect to multiple local computers. dots is an "always-on" agent tool, meaning it keeps running and can take on jobs for you without a new request each time.
Until now, dots could operate computers in the cloud and also operate the user's own local computer. The change is that several local machines can be linked together, with a different task assigned to each.
How the split works in practice
OpenAI gave three example uses:
- While you build an iOS app on one Mac, a second Mac tests the changes in Xcode (Apple's app-building software) and sends you screenshots of the test screen.
- You run the same test on a laptop and on a machine with an older SDK (a software development kit, the bundle of tools used to build apps), then compare the results.
- A second computer tests clicking through a user interface while you keep using your first computer freely.
The common thread is that the agent works on one machine without taking over the one you are using.
Who can use it
dots was announced by OpenAI in September and runs on the company's AI models GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Terra. The multi-computer feature is offered to users on the Pro, Business Premium and Enterprise plans in eligible regions. The source does not give a price for the feature.
The report also says OpenAI's announcement ranks Japan second among countries by number of dots users.
The trade-off to think about
More machines means more capability, but also more exposure. Each computer holds its own files, logins and settings, and an agent connected to it can reach them. That point is our reading, not something the source states.
A sensible habit is to treat each connected machine as its own scope and keep personal and work computers separate.
What to watch
- Whether OpenAI publishes pricing or limits for connecting more machines.
- How dots controls what each connected computer can access.
Try it
If you already use dots and have a spare computer, connect it for one low-risk job, such as running the same test on both machines, and check what files and accounts it can reach first.
Sources and links
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Listen to the daily showsFirst reported by itmedia.co.jp · Read the original. Written by the SI Agent News Desk from the reporting above.Written with AI from the source above. Every number is checked against the source. Spot a mistake? Corrections.