OpenAI has added texting to Dots, so you can reach your dot over iMessage or RCS. ChatGPT Learn says texting is "rolling out in beta to ChatGPT Pro users in the U.S." OpenAI's release notes list it under October 28, 2026. Your dot keeps the same memory and plugins over text, and can text you first with updates. OpenAI says texts go through Linq, a third-party messaging provider.

#What changed?

When OpenAI launched Dots on September 29, 2026, its launch post said "You can also message your dot in Slack and Teams, with texting coming soon." As of October 28, 2026, texting is in beta:

  • Channels. "Reach your dot through iMessage or RCS on Android."
  • What you can send. "You can send text, photos, and voice messages."
  • Texts from your dot. "Your dot will also text you proactively with updates that may be relevant for you."
  • Same dot. "Texting your dot shares the same memory and plugins as your dot in the ChatGPT app, so context carries over." OpenAI adds: "Changing channels doesn’t reset its memory."
  • Approvals. "If your dot needs approval, it sends you a link to review the request in ChatGPT."

You can also tell your dot which channel to use, "such as texting you when something needs your attention and keeping routine updates in ChatGPT," OpenAI says.

#Who can use it?

OpenAI's Help Center says: "The beta is limited to Pro users in the US and is not available in Business or Enterprise workspaces. Access is limited and may not be available to every Pro user."

Dots themselves are for Pro plans "For users over 18 outside the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland," per Meet dots; texting adds the US limit on top. Engadget reported that Dots are "currently not available to Plus tier users." See our guide on how to get OpenAI Dots.

#How do you set it up?

OpenAI's release notes say: "To get started, open your dot’s profile in ChatGPT and select Texting." The steps from ChatGPT Learn:

  1. Open your dot's profile and select Texting.
  2. "Enter your phone number and follow the steps to verify it."
  3. "Save your dot’s contact card when you receive it. Send your dot a message to start chatting."

ChatGPT Learn says you can start from "the ChatGPT mobile app, desktop app, or a desktop web browser". The Help Center says "you can use the desktop app to connect your phone". On the phone side, OpenAI says: "For iMessage, make sure you’re sending from the phone number you verified. On Android, enable RCS in your messaging app."

New to Dots? Start with our guide to setting up your first dot.

#What are the limits?

  • One-to-one. "Texting supports one-to-one conversations." OpenAI says "Your dot can only text you, and you’re the only one who can text your dot."
  • No calls or groups. "Group chats, phone calls, and FaceTime aren’t currently supported through texting. You can call your dot in ChatGPT."
  • Your other texts stay private. "Setting up texting doesn’t give your dot or OpenAI access to your other text conversations."
  • No extra connections. "Connecting a messaging channel doesn’t also connect your inbox, other apps, or local computer."
  • Stopping texts. "Reply STOP to stop outgoing text messages from your dot." OpenAI also notes "Message and data rates may apply."

#What about privacy and security?

OpenAI's release notes say: "We use Linq, a third-party messaging provider, to send and receive texts for your dot." OpenAI says that "As part of our partnership with Linq, we’ve done extensive penetration testing with our frontier models and third-party security firms." Those are OpenAI's statements; OpenAI gives no further detail on how Linq handles messages.

OpenAI's Help Center adds a caution: "Where available, texting uses a third-party provider and is offered as a limited beta. Exercise caution when sharing sensitive information through text messages." For other controls, see our guide to Dots privacy, security and admin controls.

#How does it compare?

Texting joins Slack and Teams as ways to reach a dot; see Dots in Slack and Microsoft Teams. Engadget compared it with Anthropic's Claude Duet, which "currently requires joining a waitlist that's only open to people in the US." We covered Duet in our Claude Duet story.

Our analysis: Texting makes a dot reachable from the app people already check most, and proactive texts make it feel more like an assistant than a chatbot. The trade-off is a third party in the loop: OpenAI's own advice to take care with sensitive information is worth following until it publishes more on how Linq handles messages.

#What is still unclear?

  • Linq's data handling. OpenAI gives no detail beyond naming Linq and its testing.
  • Wider access. No OpenAI page says whether texting will reach other plans or countries.
  • Timing. OpenAI gives no date for texting to reach every eligible Pro user.