Allying vs
OpenAI's dots.
OpenAI's dots are agents with their own computer in the cloud that work toward the goals you set and bring the work back for your review; your first dot comes with ChatGPT Pro, from $100 a month, or with Business Premium. Allying does the job you posted for 30% of the salary in your posting, a month, with a monthly minimum for each job, a named person who answers for it and the first week done before any conversation.
What OpenAI's dots are
OpenAI introduced dots on September 29, 2026 [2]. Each dot has its own computer in the cloud, learns from your feedback and connects to over 4,000 apps [1]. You reach it in ChatGPT, Slack or Teams, give it a goal and decide what it may do on its own, and it brings results back for your review [1] [3]. OpenAI's examples come from office work: a finance lead preparing an investor update, a sales lead working a big deal, an engineer moving a system to a new setup, a creator's show notes [4].
How dots are sold
Today a dot comes with a plan: your first dot is included in ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium at no extra cost, and OpenAI says you will be able to add more dots later [1]. Pro comes in three tiers, $100, $200 and $500 a month, billed monthly [5]. On ChatGPT Business, a Premium seat is $125 a user a month, or $100 billed annually, and a workspace needs at least two seats [6]. On Pro, dots are rolling out outside the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the UK; on Business Premium, in every supported ChatGPT region [3]. You create a dot in the ChatGPT desktop app or on desktop web, not on a phone, and OpenAI says dots usage will not count toward plan allowances for the first month [3].
The five things a job is
A job posting asks for five things. A dot helps with the first, toward the goals you set, and leaves the other four with you.
- The tasksA dot works toward the goals you give it and brings results back for your review. Allying does the whole job on the posting, every week, without being run.
- The availabilityA dot is reached in ChatGPT, Slack or Teams, and at launch has no email address of its own and cannot call you. Allying is in your channels, with its own phone number, and answers when the question comes.
- The accountabilityOpenAI asks you to review a dot’s work before you rely on it. Allying puts every action on the record, sends a daily note and a weekly report, and has a named specialist who answers for it.
- The judgmentA dot turns to you for the decisions that need your judgment. Allying brings a specialist’s standard and learns your preferences from every approval and edit.
- The reliefA dot adds one more thing to direct. Allying takes the job off your plate.
The honest differences
A dot is yours to direct. OpenAI tells you to review its work and check important details before relying on it, and says a dot can make mistakes, including when following your rules [3]. At launch it cannot have its own email address and cannot start a call to you; texting is a limited beta for Pro users in the US [3]. With Allying, you see the first week of the job done for your own business before any conversation, and a named person answers for everything after it.
| What a job is | OpenAI's dots | Allying |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | An agent you direct: you give it a goal, set what it may do on its own and review what it brings back. | Allying does the whole job on the posting, with a named specialist who answers for it. |
| The first week | Create it on desktop and connect your apps; the work starts when you give it a goal. | The first week of the job is done before any conversation and before the first dollar; then a free week, starting with a short call. |
| Who answers for it | You do: OpenAI asks you to review its work before you rely on it. | A named person with a face, a phone number and expertise in the job. Every action is on the record, with a daily note and a weekly report. |
| Where the work happens | On its own cloud computer, reached in ChatGPT, Slack or Teams; no email address of its own at launch. | In your own channels, Slack, Teams, text, WhatsApp or email, with its own phone number. Nothing reaches a customer without your yes until you say it no longer needs asking. |
| What it costs | Included in ChatGPT Pro, $100 to $500 a month, or in a Business Premium seat at $125 a user a month. | $1,380 a month on a $55,000 posting (about 30% of the posted salary, after a free week) |
What dots cost
| Plan | What their page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pro 100 | $100 a month. Your first dot is included at no extra cost. | [5] [1] |
| Pro 200 and Pro 500 | $200 and $500 a month, with more usage. | [5] |
| Business Premium | $125 a user a month, or $100 billed annually. A workspace needs at least two seats. | [6] |
| Enterprise, Edu, Healthcare | A beta the workspace admin turns on; off by default. | [2] |
| Terms | Pro is billed monthly. For the first month, dots usage does not count toward plan allowances; OpenAI will share usage terms after that. | [5] [3] |
We checked this on 2026-09-29. Prices and plan names change; the links in the sources are the ones to trust.
The cost that is not on the page is your time: setting goals and rules, answering its questions and reviewing what it brings back.
When to choose which
Choose Allying when
- You posted a job and want it done, not a tool to direct.
- The work reaches your customers and someone has to answer for it.
- You want it on text, WhatsApp and email too, with a phone number and an email address of its own.
- You want to see the first week, done for your own business, before any commitment.
Choose OpenAI's dots when
- You already pay for ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium.
- The work is research, documents and drafts you will review yourself.
- You want to set its goals and rules yourself.
For more options, AI employees for small business, by what you need puts eleven side by side, each with the price on its own page or a note that none is published.
More comparisons
Questions people ask
How much do OpenAI's dots cost?
Your first dot is included in ChatGPT Pro, which comes in tiers of $100, $200 and $500 a month, or in a Business Premium seat, $125 a user a month ($100 billed annually). OpenAI says you will be able to add more dots later.
Can a dot have its own email address or phone number?
Not an email address: at launch you cannot give a dot its own email address, though you can connect your personal email for it to use. A dot cannot call you at launch; you can start a voice call with it, and texting is a limited beta for Pro users in the US.
Can I use dots in the UK or the EU?
Not on a Pro plan for now: OpenAI is rolling dots out to Pro users outside the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the UK. On Business Premium, dots are rolling out in every supported ChatGPT region.
What are specialist dots?
OpenAI's preview of dots that a company sets up with their own identity, credentials and access, to take on dedicated responsibilities. They start as focused enterprise pilots, with OpenAI's engineering teams defining each dot's responsibilities with the organization.
What is the difference between a dot and Allying?
A dot is an agent you direct inside ChatGPT: you set its goals and rules and review its work, for the price of a Pro plan or a Business Premium seat. Allying does a job you posted, as an employee or contractor, for 30% of the posted salary a month with a monthly minimum for each job: $1,380 a month on a $55,000 executive assistant posting. The first week is done before any conversation, and a named specialist answers for the work.
Hiring for this job
Your contact for anything on this page is Mae Santos, co-founder of Allying: hello@allying.com.
The work is done with AI and overseen by a named specialist who answers for it.
Sources
- OpenAI, Introducing dots. Read on 2026-09-29. Dots run on GPT-6 Astra and "have their own cloud computer, learn from feedback over time"; "Through our ecosystem of plugins, they can readily connect to over 4,000 apps"; a dot is within reach "through ChatGPT, Slack, or Teams", "or you can simply hop on a voice call"; "with texting coming soon"; "Dots start with built-in rules for when to act independently and when to ask for approval. Custom Rules let you allow specific actions, require approval, or block them"; "Dots can still make mistakes, so always review consequential work"; "Your first dot is included in your Pro or Business Premium plan at no extra cost"; "In the future, you'll be able to add more dots"; an early tester's dot "noticed he'd forgotten to invoice a publication, prepared the invoice, and sent it after his approval"; specialist dots: "Your company sets up each dot with its own identity, credentials, and access", "We're starting with focused enterprise pilots. Our engineering teams will work directly with organizations to define each dot's responsibilities."
- OpenAI, DevDay 2026 Recap. Read on 2026-09-29. Published September 29, 2026: "Today, we introduced agents that can take on ongoing responsibilities"; dots are "Available on Pro and Business Premium in eligible markets. Enterprise, Edu, and Healthcare users can try the beta when their workspace admin enables it; it is off by default."
- OpenAI Help Center, Getting started with your dot. Read on 2026-09-29. "Give your dot a goal and define what it can do on its own"; it can "bring results back for your review. It turns to you for decisions that need your judgment"; rolling out "to Pro users in markets excluding the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the UK" and "to Business Premium users across all supported ChatGPT regions"; "Create your dot in the ChatGPT desktop app or in ChatGPT on desktop web"; "You cannot currently create a dot on mobile"; "You can connect your personal email account so your dot can use it for your tasks. At launch, you cannot give your dot its own standalone email address"; "Your dot cannot initiate calls to you at launch"; texting "is offered as a limited beta" and "is limited to Pro users in the US"; "For the next month, dots usage won't count toward eligible Pro, Business, and Enterprise users' plan allowances. After this period, we'll share usage terms for each plan"; custom rules offer "Take action without asking", "Take action if pre-approved", "Ask before taking action" and "Hand off to you"; "Your dot can make mistakes, including when following your rules. Review its work and check important details before relying on the result."
- ChatGPT, Dots. Read on 2026-09-29. The examples: a finance lead preparing for an investor update, a sales lead with an enterprise deal, an engineer moving services off an API, a developer building an app, content creators, for whom a dot "finds interview moments to clip, and drafts show notes and social posts for your approval"; "It brings you work to review and decisions that need your judgment"; "Texting your dot is coming next."
- OpenAI Help Center, About ChatGPT Pro tiers. Read on 2026-09-29. Three monthly Pro plans: "Pro 100" at "$100", "Pro 200" at "$200" and "Pro 500" at "$500"; "Pro is billed monthly. Annual billing and payment for multiple months in advance are not available."
- OpenAI Help Center, ChatGPT Business overview. Read on 2026-09-29. "Premium seats cost $100 per user per month when billed annually, or $125 per user per month when billed monthly"; Standard seats "$25 per user per month" or "$20 per user per month, billed annually"; "A Business workspace requires at least 2 Standard or Premium seats in total".