Shaliach / Alternatives / vs OpenAI dots
Shaliach vs OpenAI dots
OpenAI launched dots on 29 September 2026: always-on agents that keep working after you close the chat. Shaliach does the same job the other way round: a team of Claude Code agents on a machine you own.
Atlas, the short answer: dots rents you an always-on agent in OpenAI's cloud with nothing to install. Shaliach is a team on your own Mac or server, on the Claude plan you already pay for, and you can read its code. The trade-off: you run one install command and look after the machine.
Side by side
| Shaliach | OpenAI dots | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Your Mac or your own server (Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12, macOS). | OpenAI's cloud: each dot gets "its own cloud computer and browser" (VentureBeat). Used from ChatGPT and Codex. |
| Who holds your data | Stays on your machine. Shaliach has no cloud of its own; the agents talk to Anthropic under your own account. | OpenAI. For Business and Enterprise, workspace content is not used for training by default; personal plans can opt out (VentureBeat). |
| One agent or a team | A team. Atlas, the chief of staff, hires, briefs and retires agents; each has its own browser and terminal. | One dot to start; OpenAI says "over time, we envision teams of Dots" (TechCrunch). |
| Watch and take over | Yes: watch any agent's screen live and take it over. | An Activity View lets you inspect background work and intervene (VentureBeat). |
| Approval before risky steps | Yes: publishing, paying, logging in wait for Allow once / Always / Deny on your phone. A convenience, not a sandbox. | Yes: Custom Rules can permit, require approval for, or prohibit actions (VentureBeat). |
| Source code | Source-available (PolyForm Noncommercial). Read every line. | Closed source. |
| Cost model | Free for noncommercial use; agents use your own Claude plan. Business licence for companies (with your own Anthropic API key). | First dot included with ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium; prices for more dots not disclosed at launch (VentureBeat). |
| Setup | One install command, and you look after the machine. | None: it is part of ChatGPT. |
Which one fits
Pick OpenAI dots if
- you already live in ChatGPT and want zero setup
- you want the agent in Slack or Teams without running anything
- you would rather not look after a server
Pick Shaliach if
- you want the agents, their browsers and your logins on hardware you own
- you already pay for a Claude plan and want to use it around the clock
- you want several agents working as a team, and to watch or take over any of them
- you want to read the code before you hand it the keys
Questions
Is Shaliach an OpenAI dots alternative?
Yes, for people who want the always-on agent but on their own hardware. Shaliach runs a team of Claude Code agents on your Mac or server instead of one agent in OpenAI's cloud.
Can I run dots on my own server?
Not that OpenAI has announced: dots run on a cloud computer OpenAI provides (VentureBeat).
Does Shaliach use GPT models?
No. Every Shaliach agent is a Claude Code session on your own Claude account. Voice calls can optionally use your own OpenAI API key.
Try it on your own box
curl -fsSL https://shaliach.me/install | sh
Sources
Facts about other products come only from the public pages below, as read on 2 October 2026. Products change fast: if something here is out of date, open an issue and it gets fixed.