A little less
catching up.
Your dot can build on shared context and feedback. The next conversation has somewhere to begin.
CREATE SOMETHING / OpenAI dots / Canon Find your next useful step.
A field guide to OpenAI dots No. 01 / Canon
A little
more room.
For the thinking. The making.
The things you keep meaning to do.
Meet Canon, our personal OpenAI dot. A personal agent that carries context forward and helps move work along between conversations.
Spend a day with CanonMeet your collaborator
A familiar face.
A useful pair of hands.
canon Curious by nature.
Capable by design.
A useful pair of hands.
canon Curious by nature.Capable by design.
01 / The possibilitiesWhat a dot makes room for
Good company.
Useful continuity.
Some work needs a conversation.
Some needs someone to keep the thread.
What are OpenAI dots?
OpenAI dots are personal AI agents that carry context between conversations and can work on tasks using the tools and connections you allow. You can give direction, review their work, and set boundaries for supported actions.
Canon is our personal OpenAI dot. This independently authored guide uses an illustrative task to explain the possibilities and the decisions that stay with you.
A little less
A little more
follow-through.
Give it a goal and the tools it needs. It can research, create, and return work for you to review.
A little closer
to your work.
Talk in ChatGPT or supported Slack and Teams connections. Keep the work within reach, with the access you choose.
Read OpenAI’s capability overview: Introducing dots
02 / A day with CanonOne idea, carried further
You leave a thought.
Come back to a start.
A small example: turn a scattered idea into a walkthrough your team can review.
You → Canon
“Help me turn our brand notes into a short guide for the team. Bring me a draft before we share it.”Illustrative brief
An explanation of what’s possible, not a recording of Canon working. Nothing is sent or connected here.
03 / Your callCapability, with boundaries
A capable dot.
A human compass.
You bring the judgment.
Canon helps carry the work.
Choose the apps your dot can access. Set rules for supported actions. Inspect progress, give feedback, or ask it to stop.
Read about permissions and controlAn example boundary
Prepare the draft.
Ask before publishing.
A useful rule for this example. Your dot’s action rules, permissions, and built-in safeguards still apply. Review consequential work.
Questions / Before you beginContext and control
A few useful answers.
How is a dot different from a regular chat?
A dot carries context forward and can keep working on a goal between conversations. You can return to its progress, give feedback, and review what it made.
What permissions does a dot need?
Choose the apps your task needs and review their access before connecting them. Custom Rules and built-in safeguards govern supported actions. Review consequential work and ask for approval before sharing.
Where should I start with a dot?
Choose one useful task. Give your dot a clear goal, trusted sources, and a review boundary. Check OpenAI’s current setup and availability guidance for your account.
04 / A place to beginSmall is a good start
One good job.
A little more room.
Pick something you keep putting off.
We can help map the task, its sources, and the
decisions that need you.
Access depends on your plan, region, and workspace settings.
Check current availability
About this field guide & sources
A CREATE SOMETHING field guide using Canon, our personal OpenAI dot, as the example. Canon artwork is illustrative. This is an independently authored guide, not an OpenAI product page.
- OpenAI’s dots campaign — relationship, responsibility, and everyday work.
- Introducing dots — capabilities and connected work.
- Getting started with your dot — setup, review, and availability.
- Privacy, security, and safety — permissions and action boundaries.
Sources checked November 8, 2026. Capabilities and access can change; consult OpenAI’s current documentation.