OpenAI dots vs Mates
dots are OpenAI's always-on agents inside ChatGPT. A dot works toward goals in the background with its own cloud computer and browser, connects to thousands of apps through ChatGPT's plugins, follows rules you set per action, and works with your team in ChatGPT Space.
Your team already lives in ChatGPT on Pro or Business Premium and one capable background agent per person is enough.
You want a small team of specialist AI workers, each with its own computer and inbox, that you can watch, take over and replay.
The short version
At launch each person gets one dot, and it can't have its own email address. Mates is built around several mates, each with its own job, computer, inbox and replays, working together in group chats. dots live where ChatGPT users already are; Mates is a separate app built only for this.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Mates | OpenAI dots |
|---|---|---|
| Its own computer for each agent | YesOne isolated Linux computer per mate | YesIts own cloud computer and browser |
| Live desktop you can watch and take over | YesWatch live, take control, give it back | PartlyCan hand an action off to you |
| Replays of finished work | YesStep-by-step and video replays | Not documented |
| Several agents, each with its own job | YesAs many mates as your plan allows | NoOne dot per person at launch; more announced |
| Agents working together in one chat | YesGroup chats with handoffs | AnnouncedTeams of dots announced |
| Scheduled routines | YesSchedules in your timezone, Run now | YesReminders and recurring checks |
| Starts on events (email, webhooks, apps) | PartlyInbound email and a webhook per mate; app events not yet | Not documented |
| Its own email address | YesIts own address, with approvals for outgoing mail | NoCan use your email, can't have its own address |
| App connectors (OAuth, MCP) | YesGmail, Calendar, Notion, Slack, GitHub, HubSpot and more, plus any MCP server | Yes4,000+ apps through ChatGPT plugins |
| Asks before risky actions | YesChanges in connected apps and outgoing email ask first | YesCustom Rules per action, plus auto-review |
| Reusable skills | YesSkills library; mates write their own too | Partly |
| Your docs and repos as knowledge | YesGitHub repos and .zip uploads, read-only | PartlyChatGPT memories and Space pages and files |
| Publishes apps and pages | YesPublished apps at their own web address | PartlyPages in ChatGPT Space |
| Works inside Slack or Teams | NoWeb app for now | YesSlack and Teams |
| Mobile app | NoWorks in a phone browser; no native app yet | YesChatGPT mobile apps |
| Voice and phone | PartlyVoice input; no calls yet | PartlyVoice; no phone calls at launch |
| Shared team workspace | NoOne person per workspace for now | PartlyShared work through ChatGPT Space |
| Price | Invite-only early access; plans not published yet | First dot included in ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium; Enterprise and Edu in beta |
Mates is our product. Competitor details come from their public docs and announcements, linked under Sources, and were checked on . Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Where OpenAI dots is ahead
- It lives in ChatGPT, which your team may already use, with Slack, Teams and mobile included.
- A very large plugin catalogue: 4,000+ apps.
- Fine-grained rules per action: act, act if pre-approved, ask first, or hand off to you.
- ChatGPT Space for shared pages and files with your team.
Where Mates is ahead
- Several mates, each with its own job, computer and memory, today rather than announced.
- Mates work together in group chats and hand work to each other.
- Each mate can have its own email address; a dot can't.
- A live desktop you can take over, and replays of every task.
- Pro is not available in the EEA, Switzerland or the UK; Mates has no such limit.
Questions people ask
Is Mates an alternative to OpenAI dots?
Yes, if you want more than one agent. Both give an AI its own computer and let it work in the background. Mates gives you several mates with their own jobs, computers and email addresses that can work together.
Can I have more than one dot?
Not at launch. OpenAI's help center says each person gets one dot and that more are planned. In Mates you can create several mates.
Can a dot have its own email address?
No. OpenAI says a dot can connect to your email but can't have its own address. Every mate in Mates can have its own address, with outgoing mail waiting for your approval.
Which models do they use?
dots run on OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra. Mates runs on Anthropic's Claude models and picks the right size for each task automatically.