OpenAI Develops Always-On ChatGPT Assistant

"o, your always-on assistant," some users spotted on X, briefly listed as a benefit of the $100 ChatGPT Pro plan.

What the listing revealed about "o"

Users on X noticed a short-lived listing that described "o" as "your always-on assistant" and included it among benefits tied to the $100 ChatGPT Pro plan. The same listing grouped "o" with other Pro features — increased Work and Codex usage, maximum memory, 100GB of file storage, and early access to new features — indicating OpenAI may be positioning "o" as a premium, continuous-assistance capability rather than a stand-alone, free tool.

Technical traces: display_name and email_suffix

Behind the brief listing, a dynamic configuration fragment was reported that referenced display_name: "o" alongside an email_suffix: "-o". Those two strings, appearing together in the configuration, suggest OpenAI has at least experimented with an internal identifier for the assistant and a naming pattern that could be used to generate an email-like identity or address. The source report notes that the email_suffix reference "seems to suggest that the assistant could eventually have some form of email capability or identity."

Always-on assistance: scope and limitations signaled in the report

The published lines in the listing framed "always-on" in a practical way: an assistant that "could continue helping with your tasks when you're not actively using ChatGPT." Beyond that functional description, OpenAI neither confirmed nor denied that it is working on "o." The report explicitly states there is not yet concrete public information about exactly what OpenAI plans for the feature.

DevDay 2026 and the timeline for disclosure

OpenAI has confirmed DevDay 2026 will be held on September 29 in San Francisco. The report says the event is expected to announce a number of new features and to include technical sessions, demos, and new tools. Given that context, the report frames DevDay as a likely venue where OpenAI could reveal more about "o" and related offerings, though the company had not publicly described "o" before the transient listing appeared.

Aeon, custom agents, and where "o" may fit

The same reporting referenced an internal "Aeon" system associated with custom agents for ChatGPT workspaces. Importantly, the story separates the two: "o" appears to be a separate, consumer-facing experience, while "Aeon" is tied to internal work on workspace agents. That distinction, as presented in the report, implies OpenAI may be developing parallel efforts — one aimed at enterprise or workspace customization and another aimed at a continuous, personal assistant for consumers.

What this means for end users, security teams, and developers

• End users: The listing suggests Pro subscribers could gain an assistant that remains active between sessions and may possess an email-style identity (the "-o" suffix). Users will want to watch DevDay and official OpenAI channels for confirmation of functionality, privacy policies, and controls for an always-on experience.
• Security teams: The presence of an email_suffix in configuration hints at identity or messaging integrations, which security teams should monitor for implications on data flows and access controls once OpenAI provides details.
• Developers and workspace admins: The reported separation between the consumer-facing "o" and the internal "Aeon" workspace agents signals distinct product tracks; developers should look for clarifications at DevDay about APIs, integrations, and whether "o" or Aeon features will be accessible to third-party tooling.

OpenAI's brief listing and the configuration strings create a clear line of sight into two things: the company is experimenting with identifiers and product packaging for a continuously operating assistant, and September 29's DevDay is the scheduled moment when those experiments are most likely to be disclosed or refined. Until OpenAI confirms details, the public record consists of the Pro-plan listing, the display_name and email_suffix traces, and the company's announced DevDay schedule — concrete fragments that point to a potentially significant new consumer capability but do not yet define its scope, safeguards, or availability.

Original reporting: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/openai-is-preparing-o-an-always-on-chatgpt-assistant-that-could-handle-email/