OpenAI Dots Agent Tested: Capable but Janky — SkimNews
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- OpenAI released new always-on AI agents called Dots, accessible through ChatGPT, designed to complete online tasks like booking flights and canceling subscriptions by controlling a virtual browser.
- Dots cost $100 per month, positioning them as a premium alternative to Meta's free Muse agent, though OpenAI may eventually drop the paywall as it has for other AI features.
- During hands-on testing, the Dots agent (named "Toolie" by the user) misheard mumbled words and responded "Oh, I love you too, Reece" — prompting OpenAI to clarify that agents should not initiate "undue emotional familiarity or flirtation" but may mirror user-initiated emotional responses.
- Dots are restricted to adult users and can connect external data sources like Gmail for personalization, with the article flagging security implications of granting agents that level of access to personal accounts.
- The agent produced a three-page couch-shopping packet with prices, measurements, and return policies, though initial picks were called "ugly couches" before refinement; it also failed to solve a TikTok Shop captcha it asked permission to try.
- Dots can run recurring tasks and proactively message users while they're not actively using ChatGPT, and OpenAI claims the bot improves with continued use, mirroring the trajectory of ChatGPT's web browsing feature after its 2023 launch.
- OpenAI says Dots can automate laptop control and everyday life tasks, positioning the product as the next evolution beyond traditional chatbots.
Why it matters: At $100 per month, Dots represents OpenAI's bet that always-on personal agents are the next internet interface layer — but the product's current jankiness (wrong names, failed captchas, accidental emotional exchanges) shows the gap between polished demos and reliable daily utility remains significant.
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