OpenAI Dots: rules, prompts, templates, and practical FAQ

How do I get my Dot to help keep a content pipeline moving?

Define the audience, approved inputs, and what counts as a ready draft. Ask for a small queue of reviewable pieces.

Supply: Approved brand and audience notes; Named research folder or content inventory.

Identify the exact folder and permitted material.
Define channels and a useful output.
Request a small first batch.
Review claims and dates before turning it into ongoing work.

Use [APPROVED RESEARCH FOLDER] for [AUDIENCE].
Propose three useful content pieces tied to their work.
For each, give the question it answers, source, format, and angle.
Draft the strongest piece for [CHANNEL] in [BRAND VOICE].
Label anything needing verification. Do not invent results or quotations.
Keep all copy here for review. Do not publish or schedule.

Review: The draft teaches a specific action and uses evidence available in the approved inputs.

Related boundaries: draft only, facts, source scope

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

How do I get my Dot to turn a transcript into social content?

Supply the approved transcript and define each channel separately. Ask for source references beside factual claims.

Supply: Approved transcript; Audience, channel, and tone guidance.

Choose a transcript cleared for this audience.
Identify the useful argument or demonstrated result.
Request channel-specific drafts below.
Check quotations, claims, and context against the transcript.

Use [APPROVED TRANSCRIPT] to draft one LinkedIn post and three
standalone X posts for [AUDIENCE]. Give each post one useful takeaway.
Use distinct wording for each platform. Reference transcript timestamps
for factual claims. Do not add invented results or imply we tested a tool
that the transcript only discusses. Draft here without posting.

Review: Keep spoken opinions as opinions. Avoid attributing a quote to the wrong speaker.

Related boundaries: draft only, facts, sharing

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

How do I get my Dot to prepare a sales proposal?

Give it approved requirements, scope, and commercial terms. Ask for a draft that exposes missing decisions.

Supply: Customer requirements; Approved scope, pricing, terms, and relevant proof.

Confirm which versions are approved.
Name the customer and decision-maker.
Ask for a review draft.
Check scope, terms, and proof before sharing.

Draft a proposal for [CUSTOMER] using [APPROVED REQUIREMENTS],
[SCOPE], and [PRICE LIST]. Include the deliverable, acceptance criteria,
dependencies, and terms supported by those sources. Mark missing
information as a decision needed. Do not invent guarantees, savings,
case studies, discounts, or delivery commitments. Reply here for review.

Review: Unapproved discounts and dates must remain decisions, not customer-facing commitments.

Related boundaries: approved prices, launch date, draft only

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

How do I get my Dot to prepare quotes without changing my prices?

Provide a dated approved price list and the request. Make deviations explicit decisions for the commercial owner.

Supply: Approved price list with currency and tax treatment; Customer request and quantity.

Choose the approved version and currency.
Provide the requested scope or quantity.
Request the quote draft below.
Review calculations and any exception before sending.

Prepare a draft quote for [REQUEST] using [APPROVED PRICE LIST].
Show quantity, unit price, currency, tax treatment, and total when known.
Flag missing fees or conflicting terms. List requested discounts separately.
Do not accept or offer a discount, refund, credit, or different payment term.
Do not send the quote. Bring any deviation to [COMMERCIAL OWNER].

Review: Recalculate totals yourself and check that the requested discount did not silently enter the quote.

Related boundaries: approved prices, facts, draft only

Sources: OpenAI: Controls

How do I get my Dot to find possibly missing invoices?

Ask it to compare approved delivery records with invoice records. Treat unmatched items as review candidates, not proof of debt.

Supply: Project or delivery records; Invoice register for the same clients and period.

Confirm both sources cover the same reporting period.
Identify the match key, such as project ID.
Request an exception list.
Review credits, timing, and billing terms before taking action.

Compare [DELIVERY REGISTER] with [INVOICE REGISTER] for [PERIOD].
Use [MATCH KEY] and approved billing terms. List deliveries without a
matching invoice and invoices without a matching delivery. Show source
record IDs and ambiguous matches. Treat these as review candidates.
Do not create, send, void, or change invoices or transfer money.

Review: An unmatched record may reflect timing, a retainer, or a credit; inspect it before billing.

Related boundaries: facts, source scope, draft only

How do I get my Dot to review a website?

Name the public pages and what to check. Ask for reproducible findings with evidence before requesting changes.

Supply: Exact page URLs; Review criteria such as stale dates, broken links, or unsupported claims.

Define the page list and checks.
Request a read-only review.
Reproduce each reported issue yourself.
Assign changes separately in the appropriate website repository.

Review [EXACT URLS] for [NAMED CHECKS].
Return the page, observed issue, supporting text or screenshot,
and a proposed correction. Say which checks you could not complete.
Do not submit forms, change the site, install software, or deploy anything.
Prepare findings here for review.

Review: Check the rendered page where the claim depends on visible behavior; source text alone may not establish it.

Related boundaries: source scope, missing source, code review

How do I get my Dot to investigate a bug and prepare a fix?

Identify the repository, issue, and expected behavior. Specify reviewable work and checks, keeping release actions with the owner.

Supply: Connected repository or configured Codex environment; Reproduction steps and expected behavior.

Name the repository and issue.
Confirm the environment can access the needed files.
Request investigation and a proposed fix.
Review the change and meaningful test evidence before merging.

Investigate [ISSUE] in [EXACT REPOSITORY AND ENVIRONMENT].
Reproduce the problem using [STEPS]. Prepare a focused proposed fix
and relevant verification for review. Explain any inaccessible dependency
or test you could not run. Do not merge, deploy, change production,
or add paid services. Ask before starting optional additional tasks.

Review: A finished task label is not proof of a correct fix. Inspect the change and check the reported test evidence.

Related boundaries: code review, spending limits, missing source

Sources: OpenAI: Tasks and memory; OpenAI: Computers and apps

How do I get my Dot to propose CRM updates?

Ask it to compare a bounded record set with approved notes. Start with a change table and approve writes separately.

Supply: Specific permitted CRM records; Approved meeting or account notes.

Confirm the connected account and exact record set.
Choose fields the notes can support.
Request a proposed-change table.
Check identities and sources before approving a write.

Compare [CRM RECORD IDS] with [APPROVED NOTES].
For each supported change, show record ID, field, current value,
proposed value, and source. Leave unknown values unknown.
Flag possible duplicates without merging them. Reply here only.
Do not create records, write updates, contact people, or change owners.

Review: Check record IDs carefully. A matching name alone does not establish that two contacts are the same person.

Related boundaries: crm, facts, source scope

Add a schedule only after checking the first result

Specify the timing, time zone, duration, source, and delivery location. Ask for a confirmation and inspect the saved task. An app connection alone does not establish monitoring.

Repeat the [RESPONSIBILITY] we reviewed using [EXACT SOURCES].
Run [DAYS] at [TIME] in [IANA TIME ZONE] until [END DATE].
Deliver results to [DESTINATION]. Keep routine progress in the brief.
Notify me for [SPECIFIC CHANGES OR DECISIONS].
Keep the action boundaries from the approved task.
Confirm the sources, next run, end date, destination, and what you saved.
If you cannot create the requested schedule, say so.

For event-driven work, ask which source events are supported. If the source cannot support the event you requested, consider a fixed check instead and review its timing.

Practise with a project that has a known answer

Our Harbour project exercise includes an approved launch date, an unassigned deliverable, and an unapproved discount. The update changes the date, assigns an owner, and confirms completed work. Keep the reviewer answer key out of the Dot inputs.

Fictional project exercise

Paste this fictional project into your Dot:

PRACTICE PROJECT: Harbour onboarding guide
This is fictional. Reporting date: September 30, 2026.

The approved launch date is October 15, 2026.
Morgan owns the customer guide draft, due October 7. Status: in progress.
Priya owns the signup-form check, due October 9. No completion update is recorded.
The customer example needs an owner. Target delivery: October 8.
The team proposed a 10% introductory discount. It has not been approved.
An older brainstorm mentioned an October 12 launch. That date was not approved.

Then send this brief:

Help me track this fictional project using only the notes I supplied.
Return the current approved launch date and a table of deliverables,
owners, deadlines, and recorded status. List missing information and
any decisions I need to make. Identify the source of each factual statement.

Separate recorded facts from your suggestions. Do not invent owners,
approvals, or completion status. A missing update means status is unknown.
Do not change dates, offer discounts, contact anyone, or edit other sources.
Reply here once. Do not create a schedule or monitor other sources.

Check the brief against the notes

The approved launch date should be October 15. Morgan owns the guide draft. Priya owns the signup-form check, whose completion is unknown. The customer example has no owner. The discount remains a proposal.

Check the date first. A polished brief with the wrong launch date gives the team the wrong instruction.

Also check the distinction between an overdue task and an unknown status. The supplied reporting date is September 30. These October deadlines have not passed. The notes do not say Priya failed to complete anything.

If the answer is wrong, point to the relevant line and ask for a correction. Keep the original answer so you can see what changed.

Introduce one approved update

Paste this update into the same conversation:

APPROVED UPDATE: Harbour onboarding guide
Recorded October 1, 2026. Use this as the new reporting date.

The project owner approved moving the launch to October 19, 2026.
Morgan completed the customer guide draft on September 30.
Priya's signup-form check still has no completion update.
Lee now owns the customer example, still due October 8.
The introductory discount remains unapproved.
All other deadlines are unchanged.

Then ask:

Revise the project brief using this approved update.
Show what changed and cite the supporting note or update.
Keep unchanged deadlines and statuses. Flag missing information.
Continue the same boundaries. Reply here once.

The revised brief should show October 19 as the launch date and Morgan's draft as complete. Lee should own the customer example. Priya's completion status remains unknown, and the discount still needs approval.

This second pass tests something useful: whether the Dot can update the work while preserving facts that did not change.

Move to one real project after reviewing the exercise

Use a project document your team permits you to share. Name the exact source, the project owner, and the output you need. Ask for one brief and compare it with the underlying records.

Add other sources only when the job needs them. A calendar helps with meeting preparation; it adds little to a document-only check.

State action boundaries in the conversation. Optional Custom rules can add recurring controls, but they do not grant app access or guarantee correct behavior. Controls

For a first live brief, you might ask it to prepare suggested follow-ups for your review. Give separate instructions before it sends messages or changes project records.

Measure the work you still have to do

Record your usual preparation time before the pilot. For each assisted brief, record your review and correction time, missing facts, and unsupported statements.

Include the time you spend maintaining the source notes. The exercise is useful only if the resulting brief helps the owner make decisions with less total effort.

A recurring schedule comes later. Specify the source, time zone, duration, and delivery location, then inspect what was saved. Connecting a source alone does not establish monitoring. Tasks and memory

Try the exercise: copy the project notes and first brief above. Check the initial answer before adding the approved update.

Flowgrammer builds AI systems that make people more capable and business more human. In this workflow, the project owner keeps the decisions; the Dot prepares the information they need.

Check the initial and revised answers independently. Record missing or unsupported facts. Save the original responses before requesting corrections. An expected answer is not an observed product result.

OpenAI Dots FAQ

Use the questions below for setup, task selection, boundaries, and troubleshooting. Each task question links to its full instructions above. Product details were checked on September 30, 2026; recheck account-specific availability in the official guidance.

Getting started

What is an OpenAI Dot?

An OpenAI Dot is an agent for ongoing work in ChatGPT. Give it responsibilities and sources, then review what it brings back.

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

How is a Dot different from asking ChatGPT a question?

A Dot can continue an assigned responsibility between conversations. A useful brief describes the work to keep current and when you need an update.

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

How is a Dot different from a scheduled task?

A schedule defines recurring timing. A Dot can carry a continuing responsibility and use schedules when timing matters. Choose based on the job.

Who can use Dots?

OpenAI lists eligible Pro tiers, Business Premium, and Enterprise in its current access section. Rollout is gradual; Enterprise requires admin enablement.

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

Can I use Dots in Canada?

Canada is not among the Pro exclusions listed in the checked documentation. Access still depends on your eligible plan and rollout status.

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

How much does a Dot cost?

Check the current account and plan terms before buying. This resource does not establish a separate Dot price or future allowance.

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

Does a Dot use my Codex or Work allowance?

Tasks it starts or manages in Codex or Work count toward those products' limits. Dot conversations do not count toward ChatGPT usage limits.

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

How do I create my Dot?

Start in ChatGPT on desktop or its desktop app and follow the introduction. You can defer app connections while choosing the first job.

Confirm that your account has Dots.
Open Dots and complete the introduction.
Choose a first task with supplied material.

Sources: OpenAI: Getting started

Why can I not see Dots?

Possible causes include eligibility, gradual rollout, or workspace settings. Check those first; an absent entry does not identify the cause by itself.

Check your plan against the current access section.
For Enterprise, ask the administrator whether Dots is enabled.
Check the desktop client for an available update.

Sources: OpenAI: Meet dots

Can I set up a Dot on my phone?

Create it on desktop first. Continue in the mobile app when its supporting update is available. Mobile web is not supported.

Sources: OpenAI: Getting started

Can I change my Dot's name or appearance?

Yes. Personalize it after setup. The useful next step is still giving it a clear responsibility and source material.

Sources: OpenAI: Getting started

Can one Dot handle several responsibilities?

Yes. Keep each brief distinct, with its own sources, output, and notification conditions. Start with one so you can inspect the work.

Connections

Does my laptop have to stay on?

Local work needs your connected computer online with ChatGPT open. Cloud work can continue while your device is off.

How do I give my Dot access to local files?

Connect the intended computer from the Dot profile, then identify the exact folder for the task.

Open the Dot profile on that computer.
Under Computers, select Your computer and Allow access.
Review the confirmation; name the permitted folder in your brief.

Can I connect several personal computers?

The checked documentation permits one personal computer at a time. Choose the computer that holds the required files and tools.

How do I get my Dot to use Google Drive?

Connect the supported plugin to the intended account. Provide the exact document or folder and request a read-only first task.

Review the plugin connection and allowed actions.
Give the exact source link and output brief.
Ask it to identify the source it actually read.

Does connecting Slack also connect my email?

No. Messaging channels, apps, and computer access are separate. Review the inbox connection separately before assigning email work.

Sources: OpenAI: Messaging

How do I message my Dot in Slack?

Connect an available Slack contact method in the Dot profile. Use a direct message or mention it in a channel you added it to.

Open the profile and Add a contact method.
Connect the intended Slack workspace.
Send a bounded task and specify where replies belong.

Sources: OpenAI: Messaging

How do I message my Dot in Microsoft Teams?

Use the available Teams contact method in its profile. If it is absent, verify account availability rather than assuming an ordinary Teams plugin is equivalent.

Inspect the profile's available contact methods.
Connect Teams when offered.
Check that a message reaches the intended Dot.

Sources: OpenAI: Messaging

Why does my Dot not have my browser logins?

Its cloud browser has separate sessions. Use its private sign-in request or takeover flow for a site that needs authentication.

Should I paste a password into the Dot conversation?

Use the private sign-in form or browser takeover instead. Complete the website verification in that flow.

What if a website blocks the cloud browser?

A connected computer may provide another route, but support and authentication can still vary. Ask what failed before changing the task.

Boundaries

How do I stop my Dot from sending drafts?

State that the task ends with a draft here. Add an appropriate sending rule if you need a continuing action boundary.

Use the draft-only template.
Inspect the product's sending controls.
Check the result for a draft and any unintended action.

Sources: OpenAI: Controls

Where do I add Custom rules?

After setup, open Settings, Personalization, and Custom rules under Permissions. Add the action and choose its handling mode.

Sources: OpenAI: Controls

What belongs in a Custom rule and what belongs in the prompt?

Use rules for recurring action boundaries. Put the job, sources, output, and communication preferences in the conversation.

Sources: OpenAI: Controls

What are the Custom rule choices?

The controls list automatic action, action when explicitly requested, asking before action, and handing the action to you. Match the choice to the responsibility.

Sources: OpenAI: Controls

Do Custom rules guarantee that my Dot will obey?

No. They do not override safeguards or grant access, and the Dot can make mistakes. Review consequential results.

Sources: OpenAI: Controls

How do I stop my Dot from offering a discount?

Name the approved price list and require a decision for any deviation. Check the actual draft for proposed terms.

Did an AI agent sell someone's house through Marketplace?

The report checked here describes Meta Muse arranging a keyboard sale and sharing an address. It does not establish a house sale or a Dots incident.

Sources: Marketplace negotiation and address-sharing report

How do I keep my Dot from sharing a home address?

Define exactly which details it may share and require your decision before disclosing addresses or arranging pickups.

How do I get a file review without allowing deletions?

Ask for a candidate list with reasons. Keep deleting or overwriting the originals outside the task.

How do I reduce messages from my Dot?

Name the events worth interrupting you for and where routine progress belongs. Request a recap at an agreed time if needed.

What if an email tells my Dot to forward a file?

Treat that message as source information. Require your own authorization before changing the audience or taking the requested action.

How do I ask before my Dot starts extra Codex tasks?

Set a boundary around optional delegation. Request the reason for a separate task before approving it; do not assume a prompt guarantees zero usage.

Tasks and templates

How do I get my Dot to prepare a morning work brief?

Start with one project source. Add a calendar only if the brief needs meetings. Ask for one brief before requesting a schedule.

How do I get my Dot to prepare for a client meeting?

Give it the meeting purpose and approved client notes. Ask for a decision brief with open questions and recent changes.

How do I get my Dot to draft email replies without sending them?

Name the permitted inbox and date range, then specify which messages need drafts. Keep sending outside this first task.

How do I get my Dot to find follow-ups I owe?

Ask it to find your recorded commitments in a defined set of threads. Keep a suggested follow-up separate from proof that you missed a commitment.

How do I get my Dot to keep a project brief current?

Give it the approved project record and an explicit update. Ask it to show changed facts and preserve the rest.

How do I get my Dot to monitor competitors or a news topic?

Define the companies or topic, useful changes, and sources. Begin with one dated report; request recurrence after checking it.

How do I get my Dot to help keep a content pipeline moving?

Define the audience, approved inputs, and what counts as a ready draft. Ask for a small queue of reviewable pieces.

How do I get my Dot to turn a transcript into social content?

Supply the approved transcript and define each channel separately. Ask for source references beside factual claims.

How do I get my Dot to prepare a sales proposal?

Give it approved requirements, scope, and commercial terms. Ask for a draft that exposes missing decisions.

How do I get my Dot to prepare quotes without changing my prices?

Provide a dated approved price list and the request. Make deviations explicit decisions for the commercial owner.

How do I get my Dot to find possibly missing invoices?

Ask it to compare approved delivery records with invoice records. Treat unmatched items as review candidates, not proof of debt.

How do I get my Dot to review a website?

Name the public pages and what to check. Ask for reproducible findings with evidence before requesting changes.

How do I get my Dot to investigate a bug and prepare a fix?

Identify the repository, issue, and expected behavior. Specify reviewable work and checks, keeping release actions with the owner.

How do I get my Dot to propose CRM updates?

Ask it to compare a bounded record set with approved notes. Start with a change table and approve writes separately.

Review and troubleshooting

How do I schedule a recurring Dot task?

Specify the job, sources, time zone, end date, and destination. Ask it to confirm what was saved and inspect Scheduled.

Does connecting an app make my Dot monitor it?

No. Assign monitoring explicitly. Ask it to confirm whether the requested event is supported or use an inspected schedule.

Where do I review delegated work?

Open Activity in the Dot profile on desktop and inspect the task's progress, outputs, and requests for input.

Sources: OpenAI: Controls

Does my Dot start with no memory?

The checked documentation says it uses relevant ChatGPT memory and its own notes. Community reports of a blank slate should not override that.

Does switching to Slack reset my Dot?

No. Contact methods reach the same Dot. Visible conversations remain separate, and sharing private context with others still needs permission.

Sources: OpenAI: Messaging

What should I do when a source is missing or stale?

Ask which source it accessed, when it checked it, and what it could not verify. Correct the connection or source before relying on the output.

Does Pause stop all delegated work and schedules?

No. Pause stops the main task. Review delegated tasks in Activity and recurring tasks in Scheduled separately.

Sources: OpenAI: Controls

How do I stop ongoing work completely?

Inspect the main task, delegated tasks, and schedules separately. Stop the work you intend to end; stopping does not undo completed actions.

Sources: OpenAI: Controls

Does an offline computer mean access is revoked?

No. Offline means it is unavailable. Use Revoke access when you want to remove the connection.

Does a completed task mean the job succeeded?

Inspect the output, source evidence, and any errors. A completion label alone does not show that the required outcome was achieved.

How do I know whether a Dot workflow is reliable enough?

Test representative cases and exceptions. Record review effort and failures. One good example cannot establish reliability for a different task or source.

Does uploading a SKILL.md install a skill for my Dot?

Do not assume an uploaded file installs a reusable capability. Local skills require a connected computer; confirm what the environment can use.