OpenAI DevDay 2026: everything announced, explained for creatives

Short answer: At DevDay 2026 (29 September 2026, San Francisco) OpenAI announced more than 20 updates. The five that matter most are dots (always-on AI agents powered by GPT-6 Astra), GPT-6.1 Sol (a cheaper new model), ChatGPT Space (a shared workspace for teams), Codex in the cloud with reusable environments, and a paid Ultrafast speed tier.

The 5 biggest DevDay 2026 announcements

Announcement	What it is	Who gets it
dots	Always-on agents with their own cloud computer and browser, running on GPT-6 Astra	ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium, eligible markets
GPT-6.1 Sol	A new, cheaper model alongside GPT-6 Astra	ChatGPT and API
ChatGPT Space	Shared workspace where coworkers, ChatGPT and dots use common knowledge	Teams
Codex in the cloud	Run Codex from phone, computer or browser with reusable, shared environments	Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, Edu
Ultrafast	Much faster token generation for GPT-6 Astra, at six times the standard API rate	Enterprise and the new Pro 500 plan

1. dots: agents that keep working when you don't

dots are the headline. Each dot gets its own cloud computer with a browser, works toward goals you set, remembers context and reaches out when it needs you. You can talk to it in ChatGPT, Slack, Microsoft Teams or by voice, and it asks for approval before sensitive actions. Read our full guide: What are OpenAI dots?

2. GPT-6.1 Sol: a cheaper model

OpenAI presented GPT-6.1 Sol as its latest model, priced well below GPT-6 Astra. On the keynote slide Sol was listed at $2.00 per million input tokens and $10.00 output, against $10.00 and $50.00 for Astra. For creatives this means cheaper everyday drafting, captions and briefs through tools built on the API. Reports say the top GPT-6.1 Astra was held back over safety concerns.

3. ChatGPT Space: one shared room for the team

ChatGPT Space gives a team a shared workspace where people, ChatGPT and dots work from the same knowledge, organise projects and pick up where others left off. For a studio or brand team, think of it as one place for the brand book, the brief and the moodboard notes that everyone, including the assistant, can see.

4. Codex in the cloud

Codex can now run remotely from a phone, computer or browser using reusable cloud development environments with shared settings and permissions. OpenAI also added Codex Security Cloud, which scans repositories and prepares fixes. Useful if you build your own portfolio site or small tools.

5. Ultrafast and new plans

Ultrafast speeds up GPT-6 Astra considerably and costs six times the standard API rate. It comes with Enterprise and a new Pro 500 subscription at $500 a month. dots currently sit on the Pro 200 and Business Premium plans, not the $100 Pro tier.

What this means for creative professionals

• Delegate the admin, keep the taste. A dot can chase feedback, collect references or draft a weekly trend summary while you design.
• Share context once. ChatGPT Space means you stop pasting the same brand rules into every chat.
• Watch the cost. Sol makes routine text work cheaper; the agent features sit on premium plans.
• Check availability. Some features are limited in Europe at launch.

Try it with free tools today

You don't need a Pro plan to work smarter now. Start with our 300+ creative prompts, the free Lab tools and our ChatGPT for creative work guide. To compare the other new models, see the AI Frontier Media Index.

FAQ

When was OpenAI DevDay 2026? Tuesday 29 September 2026 at Fort Mason, San Francisco.

What is GPT-6.1 Sol? A new, cheaper OpenAI model announced alongside the Astra Ultrafast tier.

Is ChatGPT Space free? OpenAI positions it for teams; check your plan inside ChatGPT.

Can I use dots in Europe? At launch, Pro users in Europe could not access dots.

Sources: OpenAI DevDay, TechCrunch, The Decoder, WIRED.