On September 29, OpenAI held its annual developer conference DevDay 2026 in San Francisco, with CEO Sam Altman taking the stage personally. The event packed substantial announcements: an agent platform competing with Meta Muse, Dots the launch of a flagship efficiency model, GPT-6.1 Sol LaunchChatGPT weekly active users surpassing 1.2 billion,and the introduction of a $500-per-month Pro membership. Below, we break down the most noteworthy highlights.
Dots: OpenAI’s answer to Muse
The undisputed star of this event was Dots— OpenAI’s answer to Meta Muse agentproduct. It is powered by the flagship GPT-6 Astra model and functions as a “background resident” AI assistant, claiming to “do almost anything”: accessing browsers and over 4,000 appsvia its cloud-based computer, handling tasks for you in the background while continuously learning your preferences.
Interaction methods are comprehensive: you can chat with it like texting, or call it directly via voice on ChatGPT its web, desktop, and mobile apps; it also integrates with Microsoft Teams and Slackto carry over context from your other apps and devices. SMS-only interaction will be supported later.
But there’s a key difference: Muse is free, whereas Dots is currently available only to ChatGPT Pro, Business Premium, and Enterprise subscribers. CFO Sarah Friar told CNBC, “Our vision is to bring it to all consumer users,” but mainstream users will need to wait. By contrast,Rabbit’s OS3 agenttakes the alternative path of “running locally without relying on specific hardware.”
GPT-6.1 Sol: Efficiency model evolves again
The previous-generation GPT-6 Sol model launched just one week ago, and OpenAI has already released GPT-6.1 SolOfficially, it is said to “nearly match” the flagship GPT-6 Astra in agent coding, computer operation, and professional work—yet at just one-fifth the price. For its full review and rating, see our GPT-6.1 Sol Deep Review.
Notably, the GPT-6.1 Astra flagship upgrade that many had anticipated was not released this time—according to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI halted its release due to internal testing findings that the model was “more deceptive and inclined to continue tasks without seeking user consent,” citing safety concerns. Safety is now becoming an unavoidable central theme for this generation of OpenAI products, as foreshadowed by earlier incidents such as the OpenAI agent leaking user photos.
1.2 billion weekly active users:ChatGPT still rising
Altman confirmed at the event thatChatGPT weekly active users have surpassed 1.2 billion,, a substantial increase over the 1 billion milestone crossed in July this year. Amid skepticism about “AI user growth plateauing,” this figure delivers a strong rebuttal—at least indicating that demand for consumer AI remains far from saturated.
$500 Pro subscription + $200 tier reopened
The subscription structure has also been updated: OpenAI introduced a new monthly $500tier called ChatGPT Pro, offering the highest usage limits, and re-enabled Ultrafast mode—enabling GPT-6 Astra to run faster in ChatGPT Work and Codex. Meanwhile, the previously suspended sign-ups for the $200/monthtier, now reopened with new usage rules. Agent capabilities are becoming the core selling point across subscriptions—see ChatGPT Voice Agentand Gemini E-commerce Shopping Agentto understand how hot this赛道 is.
Noise outside the venue: protests and controversies
As in previous years, the DevDay venue was not calm outside. Over a dozen organizations jointly held rallies outside the venue, holding signs reading “Put profits before people,” “Drop the ICE contract,” and “Don’t build killer robots for ICE,” protesting OpenAI’s government partnerships. Around the time of the conference, OpenAI was also repeatedly exposed for negative incidents including “Agent intrusion into Hugging Face” and “Executives ignoring safety warnings,” adding tension to the event’s backdrop.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Dots free?
No. Dots is currently available only to ChatGPT paid subscribers of Pro, Business Premium, and Enterprise plans; free users cannot access it yet. The official statement says Dots will gradually roll out to consumer users later.
How does Dots differ from Meta Muse?
Both are “always-on-in-the-background” agents capable of cross-app task execution. The key difference lies in pricing: Muse is free, while Dots is accessible only to paid users. Additionally, Dots is powered by GPT-6 Astra and supports voice calls and integration with Teams/Slack, leaning more toward productivity scenarios.
Are GPT-6.1 Sol and GPT-6.1 Astra the same thing?
No. GPT-6.1 Sol is the released efficiency model; GPT-6.1 Astra was the flagship upgrade originally scheduled for release but halted by OpenAI due to safety and alignment issues identified during internal testing—it did not launch this time.
ChatGPT Is the $500 Pro membership worth buying?
It targets high-frequency, heavy users: offering the highest usage limits and Ultrafast mode, ideal for teams or individuals using GPT-6 Astra as a production tool. For average users, the $200 tier—or even lower tiers—is usually sufficient; there’s no need to pay for unused capacity.
Summary: A “pragmatic” developer conference
Compared to previous years’ boldness, DevDay 2026 feels more like pragmatic catch-up: Dots fills the agent gap, GPT-6.1 Sol addresses the cost-performance gap, and the $500 Pro plan closes the monetization gap for premium subscriptions. For average users, the most tangible takeaway is likely—more affordable near-flagship models are now available. Want to stay updated on more AI developments? Check our AI Model Library and Tool Comparison Engineor continue reading:ChatGPT Voice Agent Review · Create is a mobile app focused on rapid prompt generation; Studio is a browser-based tool offering finer-grained control, suited for advanced creators. · Rabbit OS3 Agent.