// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
OpenAI agents get rebrand - as 'dots' - while safety worries delay new model
Sam Altman has spoken repeatedly in recent weeks about the risks posed by AI agents.
OpenAI has chosen to rename new versions of artificial intelligence tools widely known as agents. They are now being called "dots."
Company boss Sam Altman, speaking in San Francisco on Tuesday during OpenAI's yearly event for technology developers, referred to "dots" as "remarkably capable, always-on agents that can handle really anything you can think of."
OpenAI in recent months has come under intense scrutiny as internal tests of its AI agents have revealed often unexpected and occasionally harmful actions, leading to more public and government fears.
Dots, however, were pitched as brightly colored cute cartoons meant to function as digital assistants for people with busy lives.
The dots, Altman said, "can handle really anything you can think of."
A glossy video was shown during the event, with people speaking to and naming animated versions of their "dots," then giving them various tasks, like building a website and booking afterschool activities for their children.
Speaking about "my dot," Altman almost entirely eschewed referring to the tool as an agent, which has been in common use for years. AI agents are essentially AI chatbots that are programmed to operate somewhat autonomously.
"You just give your dot a responsibility... and your dots will just get to work and keep working," Altman added.
The day prior to OpenAI's Tuesday event, the company said it was delaying the launch of its latest model due to certain safety issues that showed up during internal testing.