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Tue, 29 Sep 2026

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 OpenAI unveils AI assistant 'dots' while safety worries delay new model

Sam Altman spoke in San Francisco during OpenAI’s annual event for tech developers.

* OpenAI has unveiled "dots", a new AI assistant that can proactively carry out tasks on a user's behalf.
* CEO Sam Altman described "dots" as "remarkably capable, always-on agents that can handle really anything you can think of".
* The company is facing intense scrutiny after internal tests revealed unexpected and occasionally harmful actions by its AI agents.
* OpenAI has delayed the launch of its latest model due to safety issues discovered during testing.
* Altman expressed concerns about the potential for a "legitimate loss of control" to an AI system, adding that concentration of power in a small number of companies or individuals could be a risk.
* The company is preparing for a public stock market debut, potentially valuing it at up to $1.4tn.
* Altman reiterated his decision to delay the listing until OpenAI can "make confident safety decisions".
* President Donald Trump held a meeting with tech leaders, including OpenAI's Greg Brockman, and expressed support for self-regulation of AI companies.
* Researchers and industry leaders have called for a slowdown in AI development due to concerns about its risks and potential consequences.