ChatGPT Dots can now text you like a contact in your phone. OpenAI is rolling the feature out as a preview, and it works through Google Messages on Android and iMessage on iPhone. The catch: it’s only for US Pro subscribers right now.
Quick facts first, then the details that matter.
- Preview started in late October 2026, with an update on November 7.
- Available to ChatGPT Pro users in the US only.
- Works over RCS in Google Messages and over iMessage on iPhone.
- One-to-one chats only: no group chats, calls or FaceTime.
That’s the short version. The rest covers what a Dot is, how to set up texting, and the privacy questions OpenAI hasn’t fully answered.
What are ChatGPT Dots, exactly?
A Dot is an always-on AI agent. Unlike a chatbot that waits for your prompt, it learns your goals, watches tools like your inbox and calendar, and starts tasks on its own. According to Fortune, OpenAI calls Dots its flagship agentic offering.
OpenAI announced them at its developer event about a month ago. Right now they’re rolling out to enterprises and top-tier Pro subscribers in the US, and not yet in Europe.
If you’ve seen other always-on agents, this will feel familiar. We covered a similar idea in our look at Perplexity Teammates and the $200 Max plan.
How ChatGPT Dots texting works
Texting is the new part. Instead of opening the ChatGPT app, you message your Dot from the same app you use for friends. The feature is live as a preview, as Gadget Hacks reports from OpenAI’s announcement.
Here is how the setup goes:
- Open your Dot’s profile in the ChatGPT app or desktop app.
- Select Texting and verify your phone number.
- Save the contact card OpenAI sends you.
- Text your Dot. You can send words, photos or voice messages.
Your Dot keeps the memory and plugin access it already had, so a new text thread picks up where your work left off. It can also message first, for example when it spots a price change. If a task needs your approval, it sends a link to review it in ChatGPT.
What you get on Android vs iPhone
Both platforms get the same core feature, just over different messaging systems.
| Android | iPhone | |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging app | Google Messages | Messages (iMessage) |
| Protocol | RCS | iMessage |
| Message types | Text, photos, voice | Text, photos, voice |
| Group chats | Not supported | Not supported |
| Calls / FaceTime | Not supported | Not supported |
OpenAI uses a third-party provider called Linq to send and receive the texts. That detail matters for privacy, which is next.
The privacy questions OpenAI hasn’t answered
OpenAI says only you can text your Dot, and your Dot can only text you. What it doesn’t explain is what happens to those messages afterward.
Gadget Hacks notes it’s unclear how long Linq keeps message content or metadata, whether you can delete one thread on its own, and what encryption covers the full path. Until those answers arrive, avoid sending anything sensitive by text.
There’s a wider concern too. As Fortune reports, Signal president Meredith Whittaker argues that people who message a Dot user never agreed to have an AI read their messages. We saw a similar debate around Meta Muse.
OpenAI’s advice is to build trust slowly. Start with your calendar, then add other services later.
Why compute cost shapes ChatGPT Dots
Dots are expensive to run. ChatGPT consumer head Adam Fry called them “on the compute-heavy side,” per Fortune.
To keep costs down, OpenAI sends some Dot tasks to Terra, a smaller GPT-6.1 model, instead of the bigger GPT-6 Astra. The company says Terra can beat Astra in areas like computer use and writing at about a tenth of the price. That’s OpenAI’s claim, not an independent test.
It also explains why access is limited to Pro and enterprise plans for now. Fortune didn’t report a price for Dots.
Smart ways to try ChatGPT Dots safely
You don’t need to hand over everything on day one. A slow start gives you a feel for what the agent does on its own.
Connect only your calendar first and watch what your Dot does for a week. Check what it can access, since OpenAI says you can already see that list. Then add one more service at a time.
Keep texts short and routine, such as “what’s on my schedule tomorrow?” Save anything with passwords, health details or money for the ChatGPT app, where you can see exactly what the Dot is doing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ChatGPT Dots on the free plan?
No. The texting preview is for US Pro subscribers only. OpenAI hasn’t said whether Plus, Go, Free or Business accounts will get it, or when.
Does ChatGPT Dots work in group chats?
No. Texting supports one-to-one chats only, and there’s no support for phone calls or FaceTime.
Is ChatGPT Dots available in Europe?
Not yet. OpenAI told Fortune it’s working with European regulators to change that, but gave no date.
Are my Dot texts private?
Only you can text your Dot, but message storage and encryption details are unclear. A third party, Linq, handles delivery.
Should you turn on texting for your Dot?
If you’re a US Pro user who already trusts a Dot with your calendar, try it. Texting is far more natural than opening an app, and the proactive alerts are the real draw. But keep it to low-stakes tasks until OpenAI explains how long messages are kept. For everyone else, there’s nothing to do yet but wait.
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