OpenAI dots (Sep 29, 2026) are always-on ChatGPT agents on GPT-6 Astra with a cloud computer, 4,000+ apps, Slack/Teams and approval rules. CallMerlin is voice-to-SaaS with PSTN, intranet widget, PIN rights and EU hosting from €55/month. A fair comparison for EU teams.
On September 29, 2026 OpenAI launched dots: always-on ChatGPT agents that remember goals, keep working in the background and reach more than 4,000 apps through plugins. CallMerlin solves a different moment: someone on the floor, on the road or on the intranet who needs live CRM, accounting or ops tools by phone or chat, with PIN rights enforced on the server before every action. This is not a rehash of ChatGPT Enterprise vs CallMerlin; it focuses on dots as a product surface.
What OpenAI dots do well
- Always-on agent on GPT-6 Astra with its own cloud computer and browser.
- Context across channels: ChatGPT, call your dot, Slack and Teams (SMS later per OpenAI).
- Plugin ecosystem with 4,000+ apps; permissions shared with ChatGPT/Work/Codex.
- Proactive research: read connected sources without sending messages or editing apps.
- Custom Rules, Auto-review and safety monitoring; sensitive actions (password, money move) stay with the human.
- First dot included with Pro and Business Premium (no separate launch price).
- Specialist dots for organizations in pilots (own identity, credentials, duties).
What CallMerlin does differently
- Voice-native and phone-first: dedicated PSTN line, caller verification, WebRTC on the intranet widget.
- Embeddable white-label widget for SharePoint, Confluence or any internal portal.
- PIN users with per-tool capabilities checked in backend code before every action.
- 80+ deep Merlin connections plus 900+ managed connectors focused on operational SaaS.
- Desktop app, Android app, call logs, transcripts and minute billing with a budget cap.
- Plans from €55/month on annual billing (two PIN users), 7-day trial, EU hosting by default.
Overlap: agents that touch tools
Both let people start work in natural language and touch tools. Dots win when someone wants a personal or team agent that keeps working between sessions, updates documents, reads research and acts after approval inside ChatGPT. CallMerlin wins when the same operational question must be answerable by phone or embedded widget, without ChatGPT Pro/Business Premium, with individual PIN rights and call audit.
Channels and permissions model
Dots live in ChatGPT plus Slack/Teams messaging (and calling your dot). Rights run through ChatGPT plugins, Custom Rules and Auto-review. CallMerlin unifies phone, intranet widget, Windows desktop, Android, Slack, Teams, chat and API under one PIN rights matrix enforced server-side. CallMerlin refuses tool calls the PIN user is not allowed to make, regardless of the prompt. Dots score on long-lived context; CallMerlin scores on named PIN identity and per-employee call logs.
Hosting, privacy and safety
OpenAI documents for dots: encryption at rest and in transit, Business/Enterprise/Edu not used for model training by default, personal plans gated by Improve the model, proactive research read-only, Auto-review before risky actions, and that you cannot yet view or delete individual dot memories (only delete the whole dot). CallMerlin runs primary processing in the EU (Netherlands) by default, with AES-256 credential encryption, PIN plus optional 2FA, 90-day call audit and server-side checks for spoken finance and CRM actions. EU RFPs should score residency, training defaults and audit identity explicitly.
Availability in the EU and Netherlands
Key buyer fact for NL/EU (OpenAI coverage and help, read 2 October 2026): ChatGPT Pro does not get dots in the EEA, Switzerland and the UK at launch. Business Premium does across supported ChatGPT regions, including the EU. Enterprise/Edu/Healthcare: beta only after an admin enables it. CallMerlin is available to EU teams without the Pro EEA exclusion: trial and production via callmerlin.app, with NL-first stack options (Exact, Moneybird, HubSpot) alongside global CRM.
Pricing models compared
Dots have no separate sticker price at launch: the first dot is included in Pro or Business Premium. ChatGPT Pro has public tiers at $100, $200 and $500 per month (OpenAI Pro tiers / DevDay 2026 coverage, read 2 Oct 2026); conversations with your dot do not count toward ChatGPT limits, Codex/Work tasks do. Extra dots or higher monthly capacity are announced without a fixed price. CallMerlin sells plans from €55/month on annual billing with included minutes, prepaid packs and overage budget caps, plus a 7-day trial with no credit card. Model seat or Pro subscription cost separately from minutes for field questions.
G2 and external reviews
Dots launched on 29 September 2026. There is not yet a stable G2 product page or review set specifically for dots. This comparison relies on OpenAI's launch post, Help Center privacy/safety FAQ and independent launch coverage, not G2 stars.
Setup and go-to-market
Dots: first setup in ChatGPT desktop or browser, connect apps, then message on mobile where available; rollout can take days. CallMerlin documents a five-step quickstart with server-side PIN rights, optional 2FA and EU hosting from day one. For the broader ChatGPT workspace question see CallMerlin vs ChatGPT Enterprise.
Choose OpenAI dots if
- You already run Pro (outside EEA/UK/CH) or Business Premium/Enterprise ChatGPT and want an always-on personal agent.
- Background work, cloud computer, browser tasks and plugin actions after approval are the main job.
- Slack/Teams chat with one agent that carries context is enough, without PSTN or an intranet embed.
- Your security model relies on OpenAI Custom Rules, Auto-review and workspace DPA, not per-employee PIN.
Choose CallMerlin if
- Non-desk workers need CRM or finance hands-free by phone.
- IT requires an intranet embed with PIN + 2FA, not only ChatGPT seats.
- EU-hosted voice ops with server-side rights and call transcripts matter.
- You want predictable monthly cost: minutes plus a cap, not a required Pro/Business Premium path.
- You have NL/EU Pro users who cannot get dots on Pro yet but still need voice-to-SaaS.
Can you use both?
Yes. Many knowledge workers can use a dot for drafts, research and approved background actions while CallMerlin handles field and phone queries on HubSpot, Exact or Moneybird. Split policy: ChatGPT/dots for knowledge work and agent tasks; CallMerlin for human-initiated voice ops with PIN.
Capability matrix in plain language
- Always-on agent with own cloud computer/browser: dots yes, CallMerlin no personal VM per user
- 4,000+ plugins (OpenAI claim) vs 80+ deep + 900+ managed (CallMerlin)
- Proactive read between sessions: dots yes (read-only research), CallMerlin human-initiated + workflows
- Custom Rules + Auto-review: dots yes, CallMerlin PIN matrix + server gate
- Slack/Teams messaging to agent: both (dots via ChatGPT integration; CallMerlin native bots)
- Hands-free PSTN business line: CallMerlin yes, dots call your dot in ChatGPT (no dedicated team PSTN product)
- Intranet embed with WebRTC voice and PIN keypad: CallMerlin yes, dots ChatGPT UI
- Android voice app for ops: CallMerlin yes, dots via ChatGPT mobile where available
- EU Pro availability at launch: dots no (EEA/UK/CH), CallMerlin yes
- Default primary processing in EU: CallMerlin yes; OpenAI via workspace/DPA choices
- Price: first dot in Pro/Business Premium vs CallMerlin from €55/month + minute cap
- Call log + 90-day audit per PIN: CallMerlin yes; dots Activity View in ChatGPT
Always-on marketing versus voice-ops reality
Both use AI coworker language. Success metrics diverge. Score dots on tasks that continue while you are away, plugin actions after approval and carried context. Score CallMerlin on median seconds from PIN to verified API answer on phone or widget. Score dots on agent autonomy in ChatGPT. Score CallMerlin on channel breadth, PIN enforcement and telephony audit.
Talking points for security review
Ask OpenAI for workspace DPA, training defaults (Business vs personal), plugin scope, Auto-review policy, retention of dot context (no per-item delete), and EEA availability per plan. Ask CallMerlin for EU hosting statements, PIN plus 2FA policy, capability gateway, call transcript retention and AES-256 credential storage. Auditors often prefer API writes with a named PIN identity for spoken finance.
Before you sign the order form
Dots proof is an approved background task managers already use in ChatGPT. CallMerlin proof is a field rep updating HubSpot without a laptop. Pilot both if budget allows. Check whether your NL Pro seats get dots at all. Split budget: ChatGPT/dots for agent knowledge work, CallMerlin for voice-to-SaaS.
Real-world use cases
Dots and CallMerlin both touch tools. These scenarios show how mid-market teams split an always-on ChatGPT agent from phone and intranet voice ops.
Scenario 1: Dot prepares a proposal, rep calls CRM
A sales manager uses a dot to compare customer requirements with product docs and update a draft proposal (OpenAI launch example). Account managers on the road do not open ChatGPT. They call CallMerlin: 'Which deals in proposal have no next activity this week?' Merlin reads HubSpot via API, respects each rep's PIN rights and creates follow-up tasks. The dot owns background work in ChatGPT; CallMerlin owns spoken ops in the moment.
Scenario 2: Proactive research versus human-initiated call
Dots may proactively read connected sources, but cannot send messages or change app content until normal approval rules apply. CallMerlin does not start autonomous browser jobs on your laptop: the employee calls or opens the widget, verifies with PIN, and gets an answer or write action within rights. Choose dots for push research between sessions; choose CallMerlin for pull queries from phone or intranet.
Scenario 3: Pro seat versus minute cap in the Netherlands
NL Pro users do not get dots at launch (EEA exclusion). Business Premium does, at ChatGPT workspace cost. CallMerlin bills from €55/month with minutes, prepaid packs and an overage cap, without a required Pro path. For field teams that call briefly, minutes plus a cap are often more predictable than a ChatGPT seat upgrade only for agent capacity.
FAQ
Can we use OpenAI dots and CallMerlin together?
Yes. Many teams run dots for knowledge work, research and approved background actions in ChatGPT, and CallMerlin for human-initiated voice and chat access to CRM, finance and ops tools. Publish internal policy so departments do not attempt CRM writes through chat without PIN.
Does CallMerlin replace OpenAI dots?
No. Dots are always-on agents with a cloud computer, browser and plugin ecosystem in ChatGPT. CallMerlin is not a substitute for GPT-6 Astra or Codex. For 'update this proposal while I am in meetings' choose a dot. For 'how many open Moneybird invoices by phone' CallMerlin is the direct path.
Do NL Pro users get dots?
At launch (29 Sep 2026) not via ChatGPT Pro in the EEA, Switzerland and the UK. Business Premium does in supported regions. CallMerlin has no Pro exclusion: EU teams start via trial on callmerlin.app.
How do dots approvals compare to CallMerlin PIN?
Dots use Custom Rules, Auto-review and handoff for sensitive steps; plugin permissions are shared with ChatGPT. CallMerlin enforces a PIN rights matrix in backend code before every tool call, across phone, widget, desktop, Android, Slack and Teams. Both keep human control; audit identity differs (ChatGPT user/dot versus named PIN).
Where is data hosted?
OpenAI dots run on OpenAI infrastructure and service providers; Business/Enterprise/Edu do not train on workspace content by default. CallMerlin runs primary processing in the EU (Netherlands) by default. EU-first RFPs should score residency, training defaults and retention explicitly.
30-minute evaluation checklist
Use this checklist in a pilot week. Score each row 1 to 5. Dots win rows about always-on agent work, cloud computer and plugin actions after approval. CallMerlin wins rows about phone, intranet embed, PIN enforcement and minute billing.
- Field staff need hands-free PSTN or Android voice weekly
- Intranet embed with PIN is required for non-ChatGPT users
- Always-on background tasks in ChatGPT are core
- Your Pro seats in NL/EU get dots (Business Premium or outside EEA)
- One PIN rights matrix must apply on phone, widget and Teams
- Call transcripts and 90-day audit trail are compliance requirements
- Budget fits ChatGPT Pro/Business Premium seats better than mid-market voice plans
- Default EU data residency is required
- Plugin catalog (4,000+) versus deep Merlin connectors for Exact/Moneybird scores higher
Typical rollout timeline
Week 1: connect HubSpot and accounting in CallMerlin, create three PIN personas, embed widget. Week 2: assign PSTN, five voice tests per persona. In parallel: enable one dot where plan/region allows, connect Slack, test one approved background task. Week 3: compare time-to-answer for field scenarios versus agent output in ChatGPT.
Do dots support a dedicated business phone line?
You can call your dot from ChatGPT. That is not a dedicated team PSTN number with PIN keypad, caller verification and call bundles like CallMerlin. If your RFP lists own business number + PIN + transcripts as must-haves, score dots on that explicitly.
How do proactive agents compare?
Dots position as always-on coworkers that pursue goals and read proactively. CallMerlin adds workflows and Insights, but the core strength is human-initiated voice and chat across eight channels. Choose dots when push agents in ChatGPT are the main job; choose CallMerlin when ops staff must reach systems on demand by phone or intranet.
Week-one pilot script
Ask an eligible user for one approved dot task (for example a draft email or proposal update). Give five reps the CallMerlin PSTN line for live pipeline questions. Compare whether the agent reduces field questions or whether phone queries remain. Also check whether NL Pro seats see dots at all.
Typical procurement mistakes
Scoring only always-on agent slogans without channel fit. Assuming Pro in NL has dots. Measuring dots on ChatGPT autonomy; CallMerlin on phone adoption and PIN. Splitting budget lines into agent workspace versus voice-to-SaaS. Using G2 as proof: dots are too new for a stable review set.
CallMerlin's eight access channels
Most AI coworkers in this comparison offer one or two entry points, usually a web app, Slack or Gmail. CallMerlin is built as a multi-channel voice-to-SaaS layer: the same PIN user, permissions, tools and conversation history work across every channel below. Your team picks how they reach Merlin; IT configures access once.
- Phone (PSTN): call your dedicated business number, enter your PIN, speak hands-free from any phone, anywhere.
- Intranet & internet widget: one script tag on SharePoint, Confluence or a public subdomain. WebRTC voice plus full chat in the same UI, no telecom charges on top.
- Windows desktop app: floating overlay with Ctrl+Shift+M, same session as the widget.
- Android app: voice and chat on the go, push notifications for direct messages.
- Chat: type discreetly in the widget, desktop or app. Chat and voice share tools, permissions and history; switch mid-session.
- Microsoft Teams: add Merlin as a bot. Ask in a channel or DM with the same capabilities as phone or widget.
- Slack: same bot experience in Slack channels and DMs, not a separate product with fewer tools.
- REST API & webhooks (Professional+): embed Merlin in your own portals, trigger workflows from external systems, receive events.
That breadth is a structural advantage over Slack-only agents (Adapt, Twin), chat-only enterprise AI (ChatGPT Enterprise, Glean) or developer-only voice APIs (Grok Business). Field staff use the phone; desk workers use chat or Slack; IT embeds the widget on the intranet; integrators use the API. One platform, one permission model.
Bottom line
OpenAI dots are always-on ChatGPT agents with a cloud computer, 4,000+ apps, Slack/Teams and strong approval layers, aimed at proactive ongoing work. CallMerlin is a voice and intranet layer on your SaaS tools with PIN, phone and predictable minutes, EU by default. Choose dots for the ChatGPT agent layer; choose CallMerlin when phone, embed, PIN audit and EU mid-market access matter.
