On September 29, 2026, at its DevDay event, OpenAI launched “dots,” always-on agents that connect to more than 4,000 apps. It also expanded “Sign in with ChatGPT,” so Plus and Pro subscribers can use their plan inside other apps, and opened an enterprise marketplace with 32+ partner products. Together, these moves make ChatGPT a place where software is connected and used, not only a chatbot.
Event date: September 29, 2026. Published: September 30, 2026. Details reflect OpenAI’s own announcements and help pages and may change as rollouts continue.
What did OpenAI announce for ChatGPT apps?
OpenAI presented more than 20 announcements at DevDay. Four of them change how people use software through ChatGPT:
| Feature | What it does | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Plugins | Bundle instructions (skills) and connected apps so ChatGPT can complete a workflow | Users and developers |
| Sign in with ChatGPT | Use your ChatGPT plan’s included usage inside participating apps | Plus and Pro subscribers |
| Meetings plugin | Records and summarizes discussions | ChatGPT users |
| OpenAI Marketplace | Enterprises apply existing OpenAI commitments to 32+ partner solutions | Enterprise buyers |
| Dots | Always-on agents with their own cloud computer | Pro, Business Premium and Enterprise |
Source: OpenAI’s DevDay 2026 recap.
How do plugins work in ChatGPT?
According to OpenAI’s Help Center, a plugin can include skills (instructions and workflow guidance), connected apps that link external accounts and actions, and app templates that help administrators configure apps for a workspace. You install one from the Plugins section, review what it needs, and authorize any connected app.
Availability depends on your plan, workspace, role and region. Some plugins carry an “OpenAI Verified” badge, which means OpenAI reviewed them for quality, reliability and usefulness.
How does “Sign in with ChatGPT” work?
Anyone can sign in to participating apps with a ChatGPT account. Plus and Pro subscribers can go further and authorize an app to use their plan’s included usage for AI requests, without sharing an API key, as OpenAI explains. Free accounts can sign in but cannot authorize plan usage.
- Weekly caps: set a limit per app in Settings, then Usage. The cap does not add to your plan limits.
- When an app reaches its limit, it stops using plan usage unless you have enabled credits.
- Apps receive your name, email address and profile picture. They cannot see conversations or memories unless you grant that separately.
- You can disconnect an app at any time without affecting your plan.
Developers can add the login through the Sign in with ChatGPT documentation, which covers websites, plugins and eligible open-source apps.
What are dots, and who can use them?
Dots are always-on agents built on GPT-6 Astra. Each has its own cloud computer, learns from feedback, and can work toward your goals around the clock. They connect to more than 4,000 apps through plugins and can be reached from ChatGPT, Slack and Teams.
- Rollout began September 29, 2026, for Pro, Business Premium and Enterprise plans in eligible markets.
- The first dot is included at no extra cost. OpenAI says add-ons are planned.
- Controls include an Activity View for background work, Custom Rules for permissions, and auto-review for actions that affect your account. Saved passwords are not exposed to the model.
OpenAI details its approach in a separate note on safety, security and privacy in dots.
Why does this matter for people building digital skills?
If you automate work, build no-code tools or manage accounts, three things change in practice.
- Your ChatGPT plan becomes a shared budget. Set a weekly cap per app before you connect anything, and check Usage in ChatGPT settings.
- Every connected app is a permission grant. Read what a plugin or dot can access before approving it, and use Custom Rules to limit what it can send or edit.
- Learning one workflow inside ChatGPT may replace several separate logins. That favors people who can describe a task clearly and check the result, which is the skill behind good prompting and automation design.
For background on the company behind these changes, see our profile OpenAI: Creator of ChatGPT.
FAQ
Is “Sign in with ChatGPT” available on the free plan?
Free accounts can sign in to participating apps, but only Plus and Pro subscribers can authorize an app to use their plan’s usage.
Do dots cost extra?
The first dot is included with eligible plans at no extra cost. OpenAI has said future add-ons are planned but has not published prices for them.
Can an app read my ChatGPT conversations?
Not by default. Apps get your name, email address and profile picture. Access to conversations or memories requires separate permission from you.
What does the OpenAI Marketplace do?
It lets enterprise customers apply existing OpenAI commitments toward 32+ partner solutions, per OpenAI’s recap.
