Claude Duet vs Meta Muse vs OpenAI Dots vs Grok Bot
All four run on their own cloud computer and keep working after you close the app. Muse is Meta's consumer agent with a free tier. Dots targets ChatGPT Pro and Business Premium teams. Grok Bot is a beta reached through one of three qualifying subscriptions, the cheapest being Cursor Teams Premium at $120 per seat per month. Claude Duet is Anthropic's waitlisted preview for professionals and small businesses.
Four agents, one architecture
In ten weeks, four companies shipped the same idea. SpaceXAI, formerly xAI, opened a Grok Bot beta on August 11, 2026. Meta launched Muse on September 8. OpenAI announced Dots at DevDay on September 29. Anthropic released Claude Duet on October 21.
Each gives the agent its own cloud computer with a browser, connects it to your apps, lets it work while you are away, and brings back finished work or a decision. The differences that matter sit in four places: who it is for, which model runs it, how approvals work, and what it costs to get in.
Where they differ
Audience. Muse is built for everyone, per Meta, with a Muse for Small Business variant added September 29 that connects to Shopify, Stripe, and QuickBooks. Dots lean toward work, reached through ChatGPT, Codex, Slack, and Teams. Grok Bot is positioned as a coworker you assign jobs to. Duet targets professionals and small business owners.
Model. Duet runs on Claude Opus 5.5, Dots on GPT-6 Astra, Muse on Muse Spark. Launch coverage reports Grok Bot routes tasks automatically and offers no way to pick or pin a model.
Approvals. Muse puts a separate Sentinel agent on the same machine that must approve anything sent to the internet. Dots use Custom Rules to permit, require approval for, or prohibit actions, with an Activity View. Duet always stops before sending, paying, signing, or deleting. Grok Bot's launch material says its bots return for approval when needed, without defining when, which is harder to audit.
Credentials. Meta and Anthropic both say their agent does not see passwords. Grok Bot's launch coverage does not describe credential handling.
Which one to pick
Pick on fit and governance, not demos. For consumer and storefront work with Meta's apps, Muse is the low-cost entry. For teams already on ChatGPT, Dots fit existing workspaces. For delegated multi-bot workflows on a Cursor plan, Grok Bot is the option, if learned approvals are acceptable. For a Claude account holder who wants a daily brief and gated actions, Duet is the natural trial.
Whichever you choose, the running cost is the check-in loop. Agents that re-read the same documents on every pass pay for it each time; retrieval keeps each pass to what changed.
| Claude Duet | Meta Muse | OpenAI Dots | Grok Bot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Oct 21, 2026 (preview) | Sep 8, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | Aug 11, 2026 (beta) |
| Maker | Anthropic | Meta | OpenAI | SpaceXAI (formerly xAI) |
| Model | Claude Opus 5.5 | Muse Spark | GPT-6 Astra | Auto-routed, not user selectable |
| Runs on | Own cloud computer and browser | Muse Secure VM with browser | Own cloud computer and browser | Own persistent computer |
| Talk to it via | Duet apps, claude.ai | Muse app, muse.ai, WhatsApp | ChatGPT, Codex, Slack, Teams | Desktop and iOS apps |
| Approvals | Fixed: send, pay, sign, delete | Sentinel agent approves outbound | Custom Rules plus Activity View | Learned per task |
| Access at launch | US Pro and Max, waitlist | US, iOS, Android, web | ChatGPT Pro, Business Premium | SuperGrok Heavy, Cursor Ultra or Teams |
| Entry cost | Included, shares plan limits | Free tier, paid plans | First dot included | From $120 per seat per month |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between Claude Duet and OpenAI Dots?
- Both run on their own cloud computer and work in the background. Duet runs on Claude Opus 5.5, is waitlisted for US Pro and Max subscribers, and gates sending, paying, signing, and deleting. Dots run on GPT-6 Astra, reach users through ChatGPT, Codex, Slack, and Teams, and use configurable Custom Rules.
- Which always-on AI agent is free?
- Meta's Muse is the only one of the four with a free tier, with paid subscription plans for more usage. Claude Duet and OpenAI's first dot are included in existing paid plans. Grok Bot required one of three plans at launch: SuperGrok Heavy at $300 a month, Cursor Ultra at $200 a month, both individual, or Cursor Teams Premium at $120 per seat per month.
- Can these agents spend money on their own?
- Not without approval, by design. Duet checks out through Stripe's Link with user approval and also supports Shop Pay. Dots let administrators require approval or prohibit actions through Custom Rules. Grok Bot learns when to ask, so teams should review its behaviour closely before granting payment access.
- Which model does Grok Bot use?
- SpaceXAI has not named one. VentureBeat reports that Grok Bot routes tasks to backend models automatically and offers no documented way for users to select, pin, or switch models. That is simpler to use, but it makes behaviour harder to reproduce when something goes wrong.