OpenAI unveiled dots on September 29, US time. Does its always-on agent require the $500 monthly plan announced around the same time? The price stories describe different things. Before starting, a more useful question is which apps and computers a dot may access.
Sources checked at 15:05 KST on September 30, 2026. A Korean report published September 30 prompted the question. We cross-checked OpenAI's getting-started guide, its computer and app guide, and controls guide. Access is rolling out, so what your account actually shows takes precedence.
Key points
- The first dot is included on eligible Pro and Business Premium plans; the $500 fast mode is separate.
- Cloud work, a personal computer, connected apps and website sign-ins have different access requirements.
- Check app permissions, action rules, approval requests and Activity separately.
Three-point summary
- The first dot on eligible Pro and Business Premium plans is included. The $500 Pro tier's faster model mode is not the entry price for a dot.
- A dot can continue work on its own cloud computer, but your computer, apps and website sign-ins require separate connections.
- Review app permissions, action rules and approval requests separately, then inspect results in Activity.
Must I pay $500 a month to begin?
No. OpenAI's setup guide says the first dot is included at no extra cost for Pro and Business Premium users in eligible markets. An Enterprise administrator must enable the beta, which starts off. Regional restrictions for Pro and a gradual rollout mean the feature might not yet appear on an otherwise eligible account. Inclusion of a first dot is not a promise of unlimited deeper work.
The contemporaneous official change notes separately describe GPT-6 Astra Ultrafast on the $500-per-month Pro tier. Do not merge “dots launch” and “fast model tier” into one price. Before paying, inspect your plan, region, visible dots menu and current allowance.
Can a dot automatically see my files and apps?
A dot has its own cloud computer and browser. Work it can perform there can continue when your laptop is off. Access to files on your personal computer, however, requires you to connect that computer separately. That connection is optional; local work also needs the computer online with the app open. Being signed in to a site on your browser does not sign the dot in on its cloud browser.
For apps, connect supported plugins and review their allowed actions. Permission to read email is different from permission to send it. Adding a channel for messaging your dot does not connect your inbox or files. The connection guide also says a service may need its own authorization or website session.
From eligibility to review
Inspect connections and allowed actions separately.
- 01EligibilityPlan, region and rollout
- 02AppsAccount, read and write rights
- 03ComputerCloud versus local access
- 04ReviewApprovals and actual results
The diagram is an editorial permission checklist. It is not a screenshot of an account's permissions or a prediction of approval decisions.
Five checks before the first task
| Where to check | What to inspect | Easy mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Plan and region | Whether dots appears and the first dot is included | Assuming the $500 tier is required |
| App connections | Connected account and read, write and send permissions | Assuming a plugin grants every action |
| Computers | Cloud and personal-computer connection status | Assuming laptop files are shared automatically |
| Action rules | Actions allowed repeatedly and those needing review | Treating a draft request as permission to send |
| Activity and approvals | Running work and requests waiting for a decision | Calling a task finished without reviewing it |
Imagine a hypothetical team using a dot for daily meeting summaries. It could initially connect only the needed calendar and documents with read access, and state that external sending requires review. A completed draft and a sent message are different outcomes. According to OpenAI's controls guide, actions affecting accounts or shared information undergo automatic review: they may proceed, request approval or require the user to take a step. Sensitive actions such as changing a password remain with the user.
Where do I pause work or change access?
Open the dot's profile and use Activity to inspect running work, files and pending requests. Use Scheduled to inspect recurring tasks and their timing. Check plugin permissions for app actions and Custom rules for additional boundaries on a dot's behavior. A rule does not create app access. The controls guide cautions that pausing the dot does not automatically stop every delegated task or cancel later scheduled runs. Identify whether you mean the current conversation, a delegated task or a repeating schedule.
In Korea, first check whether dots appears on your account. For an initial experiment, choose a small task requiring read access only. Confirm the connected account and any approval request, then check figures, recipients and deadlines in the result yourself. Rollout and allowances can change, so revisit the official guidance before paying or delegating consequential work.