From Multi to Dots: How OpenAI’s latest AI agent lead got here

OpenAI has put Alexander Embiricos, co-founder of the collaboration startup Multi, in charge of Dots, its AI agent platform designed to handle tasks in the background.

Embiricos spent five years building Multi, a remote collaboration tool for developers that raised $13 million from Greylock and First Round Capital. The platform, originally called Remotion, let up to 10 users work together via shared screens, customizable shortcuts, and links to code and documents. OpenAI’s acquisition shut down Multi’s service after July 24, 2024, with most of its five-person team joining OpenAI. Embiricos later worked on OpenAI’s ChatGPT desktop team, per *VentureBeat*, before moving to Codex, its AI coding assistant.

Now, Embiricos is leading Dots, an AI agent *TechCrunch* says connects to users’ apps and works toward goals without direct input. The product fits into OpenAI’s recent focus on AI agents—tools that might automate tasks rather than just assist with them. This shift comes alongside other acquisitions, like Orchestra Bio, which OpenAI absorbed in October 2026 to support its life sciences AI model, Rosalind. While OpenAI hasn’t shared details about Dots’ timeline, Embiricos’ role suggests the company is prioritizing agent development.

The transition from Multi to Dots shows how OpenAI repurposes acquired teams for new projects. Multi focused on real-time collaboration, while Codex automated coding tasks, and Dots appears aimed at broader task automation. OpenAI’s decision to keep Embiricos and his team may reflect confidence in their ability to improve human-AI interaction, a skill that could matter as AI agents become more common. In a December 2025 interview with Lenny Rachitsky, Embiricos discussed the challenges of building AI agents for software engineering, including safety and scalability.

For founders and investors, the story highlights a possible pattern: OpenAI acquires specialized teams to fill product gaps, then quickly puts them to work on key projects. Earlier this month, *Crunchbase* noted that some AI startups are doing the same, but OpenAI stands out for how fast it integrates acquisitions. The company has turned at least three deals—Multi, Orchestra Bio, and an unnamed 2025 acquisition—into products or research initiatives within months.

What’s less clear is how OpenAI plans to position Dots. Unlike Codex, which targets developers, Dots seems aimed at a wider audience, potentially competing with startups building AI agents for consumers or businesses. Embiricos’ appearance at *TechCrunch Disrupt 2026* on October 7, shortly after Dots was mentioned, suggests OpenAI may be preparing to share more about the product. However, details on pricing, integrations, or adoption remain limited.

The bigger question is whether OpenAI’s focus on agents will succeed. AI agents need smooth integration with existing tools, strong safety measures, and a clear use case—challenges Embiricos has acknowledged in past discussions. If Dots works, it could change how users delegate tasks to AI, from scheduling to drafting messages. If it doesn’t, it may join other AI projects that promised automation but fell short. Either way, Embiricos’ leadership puts him at the center of OpenAI’s next experiment.

Sources: economictimes.indiatimes.com