OpenAI launches persistent 'dots' agents, GPT-6.1 Sol and a $500 Pro tier at DevDay 2026
Tags AI / ML · Industry
OpenAI used its DevDay 2026 keynote to launch dots, always-on cloud agents powered by GPT-6 Astra that keep working between conversations, alongside GPT-6.1 Sol and an Ultrafast inference tier. GPT-6.1 Sol is priced at roughly one-fifth of GPT-6 Astra per token at standard API rates, while Ultrafast generates tokens up to 8x faster in Codex at about 300 tokens per second. OpenAI said ChatGPT now has 1.2 billion weekly users and introduced a Pro 500 plan with 25 times the usage allowance of Plus. Dots roll out first to Pro and Business Premium users in eligible markets, with the first dot included at no extra cost; Enterprise, Edu and Healthcare workspaces get an administrator-enabled beta. OpenAI is partnering with Microsoft to integrate specialist dots with governance and security controls in Microsoft Agent 365.
Technical significance
Dots shift ChatGPT from a prompt-response assistant to a persistent agent with its own cloud computer, changing the unit of consumption from tokens-per-conversation to always-on background work. The one-fifth-per-token pricing of GPT-6.1 Sol and the ~300 tokens/sec Ultrafast tier put direct pressure on rival labs' cost-per-capability curves. The Microsoft Agent 365 integration signals that enterprise agent governance is becoming a platform battleground rather than a feature.