OpenAI’s Dots introduces always-on agents with a Codex usage boundary

OpenAI is positioning Dots as always-on agents, while usage appears to determine when access stops being free. The Dots announcement and a subsequent discussion connect the product to Codex usage, but the exact threshold and billing trigger remain unspecified, making cost behavior an important deployment question.

• OpenAI announced Dots as “always-on agents” on September 29, 2026.
• The discussion specifically connects Dots’ usage boundary with Codex.
• Caveat: The exact condition that ends free usage, along with any associated limit or price, is not established.

Bottom line If you are considering Dots for unattended Codex work, confirm the usage boundary and billing behavior before enabling it broadly.