OpenDots: free AI coworkers you run yourself

You create "Dots": AI coworkers with one job each, like a researcher or a writer. They chat, take voice calls inside the app, work in Slack threads, browse the web and draft documents, and they ask before saving anything.

CostFree and open source (MIT)

First setupAbout 30–60 minutes

Made byCopilotKit

Proof4,500+ stars, 10 days old

Checked on 9 Oct 2026. Tools change fast, so the official page always wins if it says something different.

What it does

Specialist Dots: give each one a name, a role, instructions and the tools it may use.
Text and voice calls in the app, with captions. Longer work keeps running while you talk.
Slack: mention a Dot in Slack and it works in the thread.
Spaces: a home for working documents your Dots can read and write.
You stay in control: it shows a draft and waits for "Approve & save", and any tool that changes something waits for "Approve & run".

What you need first

1Node.js 24 (free)Exactly version 24, as the OpenDots page says.→2Git (free)To download the project.→

3A free CopilotKit accountStores the conversations (or run that part locally with Docker).

4An OpenAI API keyPay as you go; this is what the AI costs you.→

Step by step

Download OpenDots and start it

Open Terminal (Cmd + Space, type Terminal) and paste this.Open PowerShell (Start → type PowerShell) and paste this.

Mac (Terminal)

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/CopilotKit/OpenDots.git
cd OpenDots
npm ci
cp .env.example .env
npm run dev

Windows (PowerShell)

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/CopilotKit/OpenDots.git
cd OpenDots
npm ci
Copy-Item .env.example .env
npm run dev

Open it in your browser

Go to http://127.0.0.1:5173. You can already create Spaces, write pages and set up your Dots. Chatting needs the next two steps.

Paste in your browser

http://127.0.0.1:5173

Connect CopilotKit (where conversations are stored)

Open a second Terminal/PowerShell window in the OpenDots folder and run these. Sign in when the browser opens, then pick or create a project in the OpenDots folder.

Mac and Windows

cd ~/OpenDots
npx copilotkit@latest login
npx copilotkit@latest project select

Tip: Don't run copilotkit onboard in this folder. The OpenDots page warns it adds a second, duplicate setup.

Add your AI key

Open the file called .env inside the OpenDots folder and add these two lines with your own key and model. Save, then stop npm run dev (Ctrl + C) and start it again.

Add to .env

OPENAI_API_KEY=your-key-here
OPENAI_MODEL=the-model-you-want

Make your first Dot

Create a Dot with one clear job (for example "Researcher: find and summarise sources"), give it only the tools it needs, and start chatting. Voice calls and Slack need extra setup from the OpenDots setup guide.

The catch

It's a template, not a finished app. You run it yourself and it's 10 days old, so expect bugs.
The AI isn't free. You pay OpenAI for what you use.
Calls happen inside the app. It doesn't give you a phone number that customers can ring.
One owner only. No team sharing, invitations or file uploads yet.
Your data goes to the services you connect (CopilotKit's cloud and OpenAI), unless you set up the local option.

Stuck?

"npm ci" fails

Check you have Node.js 24: type node --version. Other versions can fail.

The page opens but chat doesn't work

Chat needs step 3 (CopilotKit project) and step 4 (your AI key), then a restart of npm run dev.

Can it answer my business phone?

Not out of the box. Calls are voice conversations inside the OpenDots app. Connecting a real phone number would be custom work.

Official links

OpenDots on GitHub ↗OpenDots setup guide ↗Node.js download ↗

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