OpenAI Acquires Sky: Former Apple Team's AI Interface Set to Enhance ChatGPT

OpenAI acquires the team that made Apple's Shortcuts

OpenAI has acquired Software Applications Incorporated (SAI), perhaps best known for the core team that produced what became Shortcuts on Apple platforms. More recently, the team has been working on Sky, a context-aware AI interface layer on top of macOS. The financial terms of the acquisition have not been publicly disclosed. "AI progress isn't only about advancing intelligence -- it's about unlocking it through interfaces that understand context, adapt to your intent, and work seamlessly," an OpenAI rep wrote in the company's blog post about the acquisition. The post goes on to specify that OpenAI plans to "bring Sky's deep macOS integration and product craft into ChatGPT, and all members of the team will join OpenAI." That includes SAI co-founders Ari Weinstein (CEO), Conrad Kramer (CTO), and Kim Beverett (Product Lead) -- all of whom worked together for several years at Apple after Apple acquired Weinstein and Kramer's previous company, which produced an automation tool called Workflows, to integrate Shortcuts across Apple's software platforms. The three SAI founders left Apple to work on Sky, which leverages Apple APIs and accessibility features to provide context about what's on screen to a large language model; the LLM takes plain language user commands and executes them across multiple applications. At its best, the tool aimed to be a bit like Shortcuts, but with no setup, generating workflows on the fly based on user prompts. It bears some resemblance to features of Atlas, the ChatGPT-driven web browser that OpenAI launched earlier this week, and this acquisition piles on even more evidence that OpenAI has ambitions beyond a question-and-answer chatbot. OpenAI can use the SAI team's knowledge of the macOS platform to develop new ways for ChatGPT not just to make suggestions about, but to agentically work directly on users' macOS environments. So far, most of OpenAI's native desktop efforts have been on macOS; this may be because its core audience of early adopters includes a large cohort of front-end web and mobile application developers, many of whom use macOS as their primary platform. It's unclear at this point whether development on Sky will continue as originally planned or be adapted into something meaningfully different under the OpenAI umbrella -- but the public statements by both companies about the acquisition suggest this is about more than just a macOS application.

OpenAI buys Sky, an AI interface for Mac

OpenAI announced on Thursday it has acquired Software Applications, Inc., the makers of an AI-powered natural language interface for Mac computers called Sky. The software product, which had not been released to the public, is designed to work alongside you throughout your day, as you use apps on the computer, writing, planning, coding, and more. Similar to AI browsers, Sky can see what's on the your screen and take action in your apps for you. The move is a significant step toward embedding OpenAI's technology into consumers' everyday lives and within businesses that run on Mac. "We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people," Software Applications co-founder and CEO Ari Weinstein said in a statement. Notably, the team behind Sky had another prominent exit before this. Weinstein and Conrad Kramer previously co-founded Workflow, which they sold to Apple, where it became the technology now known as Shortcuts. Both continued to work at Apple for several years before leaving to found Software Applications in August 2023. Sky's third co-founder and COO, Kim Beverett, was a senior program and product manager at Apple, where she spent nearly 10 years working on technology like Safari, WebKit, Privacy, Messages, Mail, Phone, FaceTime, and SharePlay. Apple, which has so far been behind on AI, is expected to launch an overhauled Siri with AI smarts next year. Apple has already shipped other features that use its AI tech known as Apple Intelligence, including writing helpers, live translation, image creation, visual search, and more. It's also working with OpenAI to shuffle off queries Siri can't answer to ChatGPT. Apple Intelligence works across platforms, including Mac. In addition, Apple offers a Foundation Models framework that provides access to local AI models, allowing developers to build AI into their apps directly. However, Apple values privacy as a core part of its AI offering, and an agentic system that views your screen and takes action on your behalf could raise concerns for some of its more security-minded customers. Agentic AI is still in its early days, and recent reviews indicate that AI browsers have a lot of safety risks. It could take Apple time to launch a Mac AI system comparable to Sky, as a result. Deal terms for OpenAI's acquistion were not revealed, but Sky's maker had raised $6.5 million from investors, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Figma CEO Dylan Field, Context Ventures, and Stellation Capital, according to data from Pitchbook. OpenAI disclosed that Altman held a passive interest in the startup through an investment fund. The deal was led by Head of ChatGPT Nick Turley and OpenAI's CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, and approved by OpenAI's board.

OpenAI's latest acquisition could mean more agentic experiences for your Mac

OpenAI acquired Software Applications Incorporated. The company is behind Sky, an AI-powered interface for Mac. OpenAI aims to integrate Sky's MacOS features into ChatGPT. OpenAI has just added to its streak of acquisitions with Software Applications Incorporated (SAI). The company, founded by former Apple employees, is better known for creating the Sky application -- which, when paired with ChatGPT, has the potential to make your interactions with AI more seamless on Mac. Also: I let ChatGPT Atlas do my Walmart shopping for me - here's how the AI browser agent did Sky, which just launched earlier this year, is an AI-powered interface for MacOS that enables users to access what they need by using natural language or conversational requests, eliminating the need for manual clicks. Since Sky can understand what you are viewing on your screen and take action in apps on your behalf, when paired with ChatGPT, it should unlock new agentic experiences across more applications. "We're building a future where ChatGPT doesn't just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done," said Nick Turley, VP and Head of ChatGPT, in the announcement. "Sky's deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day." The exact details of how much the acquisition cost were not disclosed, although Bloomberg reported that as part of the acquisition, OpenAI will bring on SAI's team of a dozen people. This follows a series of acquisitions OpenAI has made in 2025, including Context.ai, Statsig, and, most notably, iO, Jony Ive's AI device startup. Also: My 6 favorite Spotlight actions in MacOS Tahoe so far - and how to add your own The acquisition of Sky reflects a broader industry trend toward creating more seamless interactions between users and the tools they use on a daily basis. For example, the release of agentic AI browsers is becoming increasingly prevalent, with tools such as Perplexity's Comet seamlessly incorporating AI throughout the entire search journey. Earlier this week, OpenAI released ChatGPT Atlas, the company's first AI browser. The biggest perk is that it integrates ChatGPT's assistance into every one of your searches and tabs, helping you avoid annoying context switching. Also: Are AI browsers worth the security risk? Why experts are worried Apple, of course, leaned into AI with its updated Shortcuts experience, which leans into Apple Intelligence models either on-device or in Private Cloud Compute within your Shortcut, unlocking a much more advanced set of capabilities. Want more stories about AI? Sign up for AI Leaderboard, our weekly newsletter. For example, you could set up a Shortcut that takes all the files you add to your home screen and then sorts them into folders for you using Apple Intelligence. This highlights how AI can help you more seamlessly interact with your device, which is exactly what Sky was designed to do on Mac.

OpenAI Acquires AI Startup Founded by Former Apple Employees

OpenAI has acquired Software Applications Inc., a startup building an AI-powered user interface for Mac desktops, part of a push by the ChatGPT maker to improve how artificial intelligence tools field tasks on a computer. Software Applications was founded in 2023 by a group of former Apple Inc. employees, some of whom helped create the technology behind the iPhone's Shortcuts app, which is designed to speed up common functions on the smartphone. As part of the acquisition, OpenAI plans to integrate the startup's technology into ChatGPT and bring on its entire team of roughly a dozen people. Financial terms were not disclosed. OpenAI, valued at $500 billion in a secondary share sale this month, has moved more aggressively this year to acquire startups. The AI developer agreed to buy product testing company Statsig for $1.1 billion and completed a nearly $6.5 billion purchase of an AI device startup co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, both of which were all-stock transactions. OpenAI has also made a number of smaller acquisitions. Software Applications previously raised $6.5 million in funding from a group of notable investors, including OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman and Figma Inc. CEO Dylan Field. OpenAI said two other executives, not Altman, led the transaction, and that it was approved by the board's independent transaction and audit committees. Earlier this year, Software Applications announced Sky, an AI assistant designed to help users take actions or answer questions. The feature includes a floating interface over the Mac desktop that understands what's on a user's screen. Sky is not available to the public. Nick Turley, who runs OpenAI's ChatGPT team, said he was "blown away" when Software Applications CEO Ari Weinstein demonstrated Sky for him. The feature, he said, "was able to bring to life" some concepts that OpenAI had already been thinking about. "We want to go way beyond responding to your prompts and move into a world where ChatGPT can actually do stuff for you," Turley said in an interview. "Being able to act on your local applications is a huge part of that."

OpenAI buys AI startup that built interface for Apple computers

All 12 members of the Software Applications team will join OpenAI, according to a spokesperson. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. The startup's product called Sky allows users of Mac computers to prompt it with natural language to get help with writing, coding, planning and managing their days, OpenAI said in a blog post. Sky can take actions through apps and understands what's on a user's screen. "Sky's deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day," Nick Turley, the head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, said in a statement. Software Applications was founded in 2023, and the company unveiled Sky in May. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman contributed to the startup's $6.5 million seed funding round, according to its website. OpenAI has been on a dealmaking blitz in recent months. The company bought Statsig, a product development startup, for $1.1 billion in September, after purchasing Jony Ive's AI devices startup io for more than $6 billion in May. Turley and Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of applications, led the Software Applications acquisition, the blog post said.

OpenAI buys the maker of Mac automation app Sky

OpenAI's relentless push for growth took another turn on Thursday when the company said it had bought Software Applications Incorporated. The company is perhaps best known for making Workflows. Apple bought that iOS automation app in 2017 and turned it into Shortcuts. This year, though, Software Applications Incorporated unveiled Sky, a new automation app for Mac. Given its focus on agentic AI -- artificial intelligence systems that carry out actions on your behalf -- it's easy to see why OpenAI would be interested in scooping that up. "Whether you're chatting, writing, planning, or coding, Sky understands what's on your screen and can take action using your apps," Software Applications said. "Now, we're joining OpenAI to bring these capabilities to even more people. We can't wait to share more." OpenAI plans to incorporate "Sky's deep macOS integration and product craft" into ChatGPT. All of the Software Applications team will join the company. Apple has been working on integrating similar features into a new version of Siri. The company first demoed those in 2024, but the overhauled Siri is not expected to arrive until spring 2026. Reports suggest that Apple wants the new Siri to carry out actions in third-party apps. OpenAI recently announced third-party app integration for ChatGPT. News of the acquisition comes just days after OpenAI released ChatGPT Atlas, its first web browser. The app is available on macOS now, and it's coming to iOS, Android and Windows soon. OpenAI also bought AI-powered personal investing app Roi earlier this month.

OpenAI just bought the team behind Apple Shortcuts - 9to5Mac

In a surprise announcement, OpenAI says it has acquired Software Applications Incorporated -- makers of the Mac app called Sky. If that sounds a bit generic, the company was recently founded by the team behind Workflow, which Apple bought and turned into Shortcuts. Earlier this year, Software Applications Incorporated previewed a new Mac app called Sky. Unsurprisingly, Sky showed off how modern AI could be used to enhance automation and improve workflows on the Mac. So far, Apple hasn't matched what Sky has been developing. Apple, of course, is still developing the AI-infused version of Siri that was announced in June 2024 and delayed until at least Spring 2026. Here's more from today's announcement:

OpenAI Acquires Apple Shortcuts Creators to Bring Deep Mac Integration to ChatGPT

OpenAI today said that it has acquired Software Applications Incorporated and its AI app, Sky. Software Applications Incorporated and Sky were created by a team of former Apple employees known for their work on Apple's Shortcuts feature and the Workflow app that preceded it. Ari Weinstein and Conrad Kramer, two of the founders of Software Applications Incorporated, also founded Workflow. Workflow was a popular iOS automation app before Apple acquired it in 2017. Weinstein and Kramer joined Apple when Workflow was acquired, and the app ended up serving as the backbone for the Shortcuts feature that's available across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Kramer left Apple in 2019 and Weinstein left in 2023, which is when the two teamed up to found their new company and start work on Sky. Sky didn't officially launch, but it is a Mac-based natural language AI assistant able to answer questions and complete tasks in any open Mac window. OpenAI says that it plans to bring Sky's deep macOS integration into ChatGPT, with all members of the Sky team set to join OpenAI. That includes Weinstein, Kramer, and several other ex-Apple employees. "We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people." --Ari Weinstein, Co-Founder and CEO, Software Applications Incorporated OpenAI's Sky acquisition comes just a day after OpenAI announced ChatGPT Atlas, a new browser that's designed to compete with Safari and Chrome. ChatGPT Atlas can perform tasks on the user's behalf with ChatGPT's existing AI Operator features, but Sky could further enhance that functionality in the future.

Why OpenAI's latest acquisition could mean ChatGPT taking over from Siri on your Mac

OpenAI has just acquired Software Applications Incorporated, makers of the Sky app for the Mac, which integrates AI deeply into the Mac's operating system. The Sky app still hasn't actually been released to the public, but you can see what it can do from its demonstration video. It's like a super-charged version of Siri that can control apps, files and more using an AI chatbot-style interface: Siri has been around for long enough that we're all used to using it on the Mac, and over the years it has improved, but it's still lacking in the AI department, especially in comparison to what the Sky app can offer. At the moment you're limited to asking Siri basic things like, "Show me my reminders", or, "Set an alarm for 5 o'clock", and with Apple Intelligence feature delays, we're still w It's clear that with better AI integration Siri could be so much more, and it's what Apple has promised for Spring next year with an "upgraded" Siri. The full details of what the new Siri will do are being kept quiet for now, but I'm hoping for a much better experience on the Mac. However, if OpenAI can come up with a more powerful, integrated AI solution that sits right at the heart of everything you do on the Mac, without involving Siri at all, then I think that might just be the death knell for Apple's much maligned digital assistant, even in its new upgraded form. Talking about the acquisition of the Sky app, Nick Turley, VP & Head of ChatGPT, said "We're building a future where ChatGPT doesn't just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done. Sky's deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day." As OpenAI's recently released Atlas browser shows, this company wants ChatGPT to be everywhere on your desktop and involved in everything. From phones to browsers to operating systems "AI everywhere" has become the new digital battlefield - Samsung is integrating AI deeply into its mobile phones with its One UI interface, and new Galaxy XR headset. Meta is currently pouring AI into everything it does, from social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp to its new Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses. Apple is doing its best to catch up with Apple Intelligence, but for once it feels like it is being left behind by Windows and Copilot. Apple has already taken the first steps of integrating ChatGPT with Siri, so it contacts ChatGPT when requests get too complicated, but the handoff is a little clunky and not as tightly integrated as it could be. With the Sky app at its disposal, OpenAI finally has a way to get right to the heart of the Mac in the same way that Microsoft has Copilot at the heart of everything that happens with Windows 11. It's worth watching that Sky app demo again and considering what it does show. What you see are context awareness, file control and system-level actions all effortlessly performed by an AI interface you interact with using conversational text. If you let your imagination run free you can imagine a future Mac where Spotlight, Finder, Mail and Calendar can all be controlled by AI. This might be in stark contrast to Apple's typical privacy-first and minimalist approach, but it might also be what people want. Using ChatGPT and Sky together could radically change the way you use your Mac. Imagine opening your Mac, saying "show me everything I worked on this week," and your desktop rearranges itself accordingly. Or, "I want to digitally sign this document" and it creates an app for you to sign it with. Another question to consider is, would Apple allow it? Remember, the Sky app still hasn't been released. Would Apple's privacy policies even allow this level of deep integration by a third-party app? Whatever battles are about to be fought between privacy-loving Apple and the 'move fast and break things' mentality of AI companies, I think the future belongs to an AI-based operating system. It's almost inevitable that AI is going to dominate our desktops for years to come. We could be looking at the end of the era of apps, and the dawn of the era of intent. Instead of using apps to complete tasks, your operating system will consider your intent first, and maybe it will build the app it needs to create whatever outcome you want. Instead of colorful icons, you could be looking at an interface for your desktop that is simply a glowing ChatGPT-like orb, that can do anything you want it to.

OpenAI is coming for your MacBook with latest acquisition

OpenAI has acquired Sky, a native AI interface for Mac. Credit: Sky ChatGPT is already deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem thanks to a partnership between OpenAI and Apple to use ChatGPT models to power some Apple Intelligence features. Now, OpenAI has taken the initiative to tread even further into Apple's territory. On Thursday, OpenAI announced that it acquired Software Applications Incorporated, the developer of an AI interface for Mac called Sky. Sky is an AI-powered natural language interface that provides AI functions for a user directly on their computer. It appears to work like AI assistant web browsers; however, in Sky's case, the functionality is running directly on Mac instead of through the browser. "We're building a future where ChatGPT doesn't just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done," said VP and Head of ChatGPT Nick Turley, who led the acquisition deal, in a blog post. "Sky's deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day." There is a demo video released back in May showcasing what Sky can do on Mac. However, Sky has yet to be released to the public. The Sky demo showcases the Mac AI assistant adding dinner plans made by text message to a user's calendar, researching nearby bars to go to beforehand, and responding back to the text message with the pre-dinner plan suggestion. "We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive," said Software Applications Incorporated CEO and co-founder Ari Weinstein said in an announcement blog. "With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people." Sky looks to work like most other agentic AI systems. The AI assistant requires numerous permissions, including the ability to view and record a user's screen, in order to take actions based on what the user is looking to do. Cybersecurity experts and privacy advocates have already shared concerns regarding this. Perhaps, with Sky being a native-based application instead of an AI agent built into a web browser with its own security concerns, OpenAI is hoping this software will alleviate those fears among consumers. But we won't really know much about that or Sky itself until it's officially released to the public.

OpenAI's Sky for Mac wants to be your new work buddy and maybe your boss

What Happened: So, OpenAI just snapped up a small company called Software Applications, Inc. These are the folks who were quietly building a really cool AI assistant for Mac computers called "Sky." Imagine an AI that could actually see what was on your screen, understand the context of what you were doing, and then jump in to help you write, plan, or even code, all while moving between your different apps. That's what Sky was supposed to be. It was never actually released, so we never got to try it, but the idea was a big one. We don't know what OpenAI paid, but what's really interesting is the team behind Sky. These guys have some serious Apple DNA. Two of the founders are the same guys who created the "Workflow" app, which Apple bought back in 2017 and turned into the "Shortcuts" app that's on every iPhone today. The third founder was a manager at Apple for nearly a decade, working on core stuff like Safari, Messages, and FaceTime. Why This Is Important: Okay, so why is this such a big deal? This is a huge, flashing signpost pointing to OpenAI's next big move: getting its AI off the web and planting it right onto our desktops, especially on Macs. The tech these guys built is like the missing puzzle piece for OpenAI to create a true "agent" - an AI that doesn't just answer questions, but one that can watch what you're doing and then actually do things for you automatically. This is basically OpenAI putting on its gloves for a direct showdown with Apple. We all know Apple is about to drop a massively upgraded, AI-powered Siri next year. The battle lines are being drawn: Apple is going to be all about privacy and doing things on your device, while OpenAI is betting that you'll care more about raw power and an assistant that can actually get stuff done. Why Should I Care: What does this all mean for you? If you use a Mac, this could be a total game-changer. Imagine having the full power of ChatGPT built right into your system, able to automate all the boring, tedious tasks between your apps. It could make you a whole lot more productive. Of course, there's the other side of the coin. You'd have to be pretty comfortable with the idea of letting an AI have full access to see and interact with everything on your screen, which... yeah, is a little spooky to think about. Recommended Videos What's Next: So what happens now? OpenAI is being pretty quiet and hasn't laid out its exact plans. But you can bet we'll start to see Sky's DNA show up in a future version of the ChatGPT desktop app or in some of their tools for businesses. In the meantime, Apple is building its own "walled garden" for AI, focused on privacy. It's all setting the stage for a massive clash over the next year or two between these two completely different ideas of what an AI assistant should be.

OpenAI buys Mac AI interface builder Software Applications Incorporated

The start-up is behind 'Sky', a natural language interface for Mac computers. OpenAI has acquired Software Applications Incorporated, a start-up that builds AI interfaces for Mac computers. The terms of the deal remain undisclosed, however, OpenAI said that a private fund associated with CEO Sam Altman made the purchase, which was led by the company's applications CEO Fidji Simo and head of ChatGPT Nick Turley. The 2023-founded company is best known for 'Sky', a natural language interface for Mac computers which enables users to prompt the product to help with writing, coding or managing their planning. Simply put, Sky can analyse the data on a computer and take prompt-based action using apps. OpenAI wants to incorporate Sky's MacOS integration into ChatGPT. "We're building a future where ChatGPT doesn't just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done. Sky's deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day," said Turley, who is also a vice-president at the company. Ari Weinstein, the co-founder and CEO of Software Applications Incorporated added, "We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customisable and intuitive. "With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people." Weinstein, a graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology had previously worked for Apple for more than six years. All members of Software Applications - the company's website lists 10 - will be joining OpenAI. OpenAI has made several headline-making announcements in recent weeks, from launching a ChatGPT-powered browser (and officially entering into direct competition with browser giants such as Google), to launching a controversial TikTok-like vertical social app where users can create and post AI-generated videos. The company, that's reportedly worth $500bn (making it the world's most valuable private company), recently also said that it would be loosening reins to allow more sexually explicit content on ChatGPT. Its constant new offerings to an ever-growing user-base comes as a result of a several major deals to increase its AI capacity - including a 10 GW custom chip deal with Broadcom, a 6 GW deal to use AMD's AI infrastructure and a 4 GW deal for Oracle's computing power worth $300bn, all while announcing that it would raise its Nvidia purchases over time. OpenAI has committed to spending more than $1trn over the next decade. Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

OpenAI Acquires Sky, macOS AI App Built by Former Apple Engineers | AIM

OpenAI said it will begin work on integrating Sky's macOS capabilities into ChatGPT in the coming months. OpenAI has acquired Software Applications Incorporated, the company behind Sky, a natural language interface for macOS. The deal aims to integrate Sky's system-level AI capabilities into ChatGPT, allowing users to perform tasks directly through their computer interface. According to OpenAI, the acquisition is part of its effort to make AI more accessible and actionable. "We're building a future where ChatGPT doesn't just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done," said Nick Turley, VP and head of ChatGPT. "Sky's deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day." Sky enables users to interact with their Mac through natural language, allowing the AI to understand what's on the screen and act across different applications. The entire Sky team will join OpenAI to bring these features to ChatGPT. The team behind Software Applications Incorporated has a strong background. The company was founded by former Apple employees who previously created the automation app Workflow, which Apple acquired in 2017 and later turned into the Shortcuts feature. According to filings, Software Applications Incorporated raised around $6.5 million from investors, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman through a passive interest, Figma CEO Dylan Field, Context Ventures, and Stellation Capital. Ari Weinstein, co-founder and CEO of Software Applications Incorporated, said, "We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customisable, and intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people." OpenAI said it will begin work on integrating Sky's macOS capabilities into ChatGPT in the coming months.

OpenAI buys Apple Mac automation startup Software Applications - SiliconANGLE

OpenAI buys Apple Mac automation startup Software Applications OpenAI said today it has bought a company called Software Applications Inc., which is currently building an artificial intelligence-based natural language interface for Apple Inc.'s Mac computers. That tool is called Sky, and it has not yet been released, but the company's website reveals that it's meant to work as a kind of AI assistant. Similar to AI browsers, Sky can see Mac user's screens as they browse the web and use various applications, and will take actions on their behalf as they go about writing, coding, planning and more. Software Applications co-founder and Chief Executive Ari Weinstein said in a statement that his goal is to make computers more empowering and intuitive. "With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together," he said, referring to the large language modes that power chatbots like ChatGPT. "That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create." The acquisition suggests that OpenAI wants to embed its technology into the lives of everyday consumers and employees that work with Mac computers. It said it's planning to incorporate Sky's deep macOS integration into ChatGPT itself, and will hire Software Applications' entire team to help with that work. The Sky app actually bears some resemblance to OpenAI's new ChatGPT-powered web browser Atlas, which launched this week and is also built to run on Macs. The AI company may use the Sky team's knowledge of the macOS platform to enable ChatGPT to work like an agent inside Macs, automating tasks on behalf of users. Software Applications' founding team has had a long association with Apple. Weinstein and his co-founder Conrad Kramer previously built up a company called Workflow Inc., which developed a technology that later became known as "Shortcuts" when it was acquired by the iPhone maker in 2017. The pair worked at Apple for a number of years before leaving to found Software Applications in 2023. Another Sky co-founder is the startup's chief operating officer Kim Beverett, who served as a product manager at Apple for almost 10 years, working on things such as Safari, WebKit, Messages, Mail, FaceTime, Phone and SharePlay. The acquisition could lead to Apple getting even closer to OpenAI. The iPhone maker is generally viewed as having been a bit slow to adopt AI in its products and devices, but is believed to be planning a major overhaul of its Siri assistant. It has already shipped some AI features within its Apple Intelligence product suite, which enable iPhones to help users with their writing, perform live translations, generate images and so on. However, it's thought Apple is working with OpenAI to integrate Siri with ChatGPT, so it can use that company's chatbot to respond to queries that its assistant can't handle. OpenAI didn't reveal the terms of the acquisition, but it's unlikely to have been hugely expensive. To date, Software Applications had raised just $6.5 million in funding from investors including OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, Figma Inc. CEO Dylan Field, Context Ventures and Stellation Capital.

OpenAI buys the team behind Sky, an unreleased AI interface for Mac

Sky acts as an on-screen assistant that can view content and take actions across apps in real time. The product was built by the creators of Workflow, the automation app Apple rebranded as Shortcuts. OpenAI announced its acquisition of Software Applications, Inc., the company behind the AI-powered Mac interface Sky. The move aims to embed OpenAI's technology into daily consumer and business operations on Apple computers through the unreleased software. The acquired product, Sky, had not been released publicly. It is engineered as an AI-powered natural language interface designed to function alongside users during their daily computer activities, including writing, planning, and coding. The system is able to see on-screen content and execute actions within applications on the user's behalf, a functionality similar to that of emerging AI browsers. The acquisition represents a step toward integrating OpenAI's technology directly into the workflow of individuals and businesses operating within the Mac ecosystem. Ari Weinstein, co-founder and CEO of Software Applications, provided a statement regarding the acquisition. "We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people," Weinstein said. The leadership team at Software Applications has a history of successful ventures involving Apple. Weinstein and fellow co-founder Conrad Kramer previously established Workflow, a company they sold to Apple, where its technology was integrated and rebranded as the Shortcuts feature. Both founders worked at Apple for several years following that acquisition before departing to create Software Applications in August 2023. The third co-founder and COO, Kim Beverett, is also an Apple veteran, having spent nearly a decade as a senior program and product manager working on technologies including Safari, WebKit, Privacy, Messages, Mail, Phone, FaceTime, and SharePlay. The acquisition occurs as Apple prepares its own artificial intelligence initiatives. The company is expected to launch a redesigned Siri with enhanced AI capabilities next year. Apple has already deployed features under its "Apple Intelligence" brand, which include writing aids, live translation, image generation, and visual search across its platforms, including the Mac. The company is also collaborating with OpenAI to direct Siri queries that the assistant cannot answer to the ChatGPT service. Apple provides developers with a Foundation Models framework, enabling the integration of local AI models directly into applications. The company presents privacy as a central component of its AI strategy. An agentic system like Sky, which has the capability to view a user's screen and perform actions autonomously, could introduce security concerns for some customers. The field of agentic AI is still nascent, and recent reviews of AI browsers have highlighted existing safety risks. These factors may contribute to a longer development timeline for Apple to release a Mac AI system with capabilities comparable to Sky's. The financial terms of the acquisition were not made public. According to data from Pitchbook, Software Applications had previously secured $6.5 million in funding from a group of investors that included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Figma CEO Dylan Field, Context Ventures, and Stellation Capital. OpenAI specified that Altman's involvement was a passive interest held through an investment fund. The acquisition was managed by Nick Turley, Head of ChatGPT, and Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of Applications, and received approval from OpenAI's board of directors.

OpenAI acquires Software Applications, startup that built AI interface for Apple Macs - The Economic Times

OpenAI announced on Thursday that it has acquired Software Applications, Inc., the company behind Sky, an AI-powered natural language interface for Mac computers. "With Sky, AI works alongside you, whether you're writing, planning, coding, or managing your day. Sky understands what's on your screen and can take action using your apps," the company explained in a blog post. OpenAI plans to integrate Sky's deep macOS capabilities and product design into ChatGPT. "We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people," said Software Applications cofounder and CEO Ari Weinstein. All of Software Applications' team members will be joining OpenAI. However, other acquisition details, such as financial terms, were not disclosed. The blog mentioned that an investment fund linked to Sam Altman held a "passive investment" in Software Applications. The acquisition was led by Nick Turley (Head of ChatGPT) and Fidji Simo (OpenAI's CEO of Applications) and approved by the independent Transaction and Audit Committees of OpenAI's board of directors.. The move marks a key step in embedding OpenAI's technology across Mac devices. However, Apple's strong focus on privacy may slow the launch of a Mac AI system similar to Sky, since an agent that monitors screens and takes action could raise concerns for security-conscious users.

OpenAI Acquires The Company Behind The New Apple Mac App Sky

In what is indicative of OpenAI's efforts to further encroach into Apple's sprawling ecosystem, the builder of ChatGPT just acquired a company that is championing enhanced automation and improved workflows on the Mac, Software Applications Incorporated. In a press release issued just moments ago, OpenAI announced that it is acquiring Software Applications Incorporated, the company behind Sky, a natural language interface application for Mac computers. Sky is basically an AI assistant for macOS that leverages the power of AI models in the following ways: Expounding on Sky's significant for improved workflow on Mac computers, OpenAI notes: "Sky is a powerful natural language interface for the Mac. With Sky, AI works alongside you, whether you're writing, planning, coding, or managing your day. Sky understands what's on your screen and can take action using your apps. We will bring Sky's deep macOS integration and product craft into ChatGPT, and all members of the team will join OpenAI." According to Nick Turley, the VP and Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, "Sky's deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day." Do note that Sky was built by the same team that was behind Workflow, which Apple purchased back in 2017 and and re-branded into Shortcuts. Workflow allowed users to combine the functionalities of various apps together to automate otherwise complex processes. Of course, Sky far exceeds the capabilities of what Apple itself has to offer via Apple Intelligence. After all, the Cupertino giant has been working for quite some time to bring in-app actions and personal context awareness - where Siri uses personal data to provide tailored services - across its family of devices. We reported recently that some Apple engineers remain concerned about the performance of the new Siri, which is expected to ship with the iOS 26.4 build in the spring of 2026. Apple also suffered a major setback recently when it came out that Ke Yang, who was appointed the head of its Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI) team only weeks earlier, is now reportedly leaving for a lucrative stint at Meta Platforms Inc.

OpenAI Acquires Former Apple Shortcuts Team to Expand Desktop Offering | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. The startup's flagship tool, Sky for Mac, is a desktop assistant that lets users control software through natural language and visual context. The system can identify what appears on screen and execute actions like opening files, drafting messages or navigating apps. OpenAI said the company's dozen employees will join its ChatGPT division, focusing on developing interface technologies for agentic computing. Software Applications previously raised $6.5 million from investors, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Figma CEO Dylan Field. OpenAI said the acquisition was approved by its independent board and managed by the product team overseeing ChatGPT's interface roadmap. Financial details were not disclosed. Founded in 2023, Software Applications aimed to make personal computing more intuitive through contextual AI. Its Sky assistant blends speech recognition and computer vision to understand what users are doing on their devices and assist accordingly. OpenAI's ChatGPT team lead Nick Turley said Sky's technology "brings ChatGPT closer to acting as an on-screen collaborator." The acquisition follows the launch of ChatGPT Atlas, OpenAI's new browser that embeds the model directly into online workflows. Atlas allows users to browse, summarize and act on web content in real time, signaling the company's move toward full-service AI workspaces. Together, Atlas and Sky suggest OpenAI's vision of unifying browser, desktop and cloud-based environments under a single agentic system. The deal also reflects OpenAI's expanding infrastructure footprint. As PYMNTS reported, the company's compute partnerships with Microsoft, Google Cloud and Oracle now exceed $1 trillion in total contract value, underscoring the resources needed to power autonomous agents at scale. The acquisition shows OpenAI's intent to transform ChatGPT into an operating layer for everyday computing. By merging interface design and model capability, OpenAI is moving toward AI that can manage files, applications and workflows directly from users' devices. For OpenAI, integrating Sky's desktop technology advances its goal of building AI that doesn't just respond to queries but acts as a true collaborator, linking language, context and execution across the desktop, web and cloud.

OpenAI's Big Move: Sky AI Assistant Aims to Transform Mac Workflows

OpenAI Acquires Sky: Mac AI Assistant Set to Revolutionize Productivity and Workflows OpenAI has acquired Software Applications Inc., the firm developing Sky, a natural language interface for Mac devices. Sky, which has yet to be made publicly available, is intended to help users write, plan, program, and navigate apps by monitoring screen material and taking meaningful actions. The acquisition represents a strategic move for OpenAI to integrate artificial intelligence into everyday computing and business tasks on Macs.

OpenAI acquires Sky maker Software Applications Incorporated By Investing.com

Investing.com -- OpenAI has acquired Software Applications Incorporated, the company behind Sky, a natural language interface for Mac computers. Sky provides a powerful AI interface that works alongside users as they write, plan, code, or manage their daily tasks. The application is designed to understand screen content and take actions using the user's installed applications. The entire Software Applications Incorporated team will join OpenAI as part of the acquisition. OpenAI plans to integrate Sky's macOS capabilities into its ChatGPT product. Nick Turley, VP & Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, stated: "We're building a future where ChatGPT doesn't just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done. Sky's deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day." Ari Weinstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Software Applications Incorporated, added: "We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people." OpenAI indicated that further updates on the integration of Sky's capabilities will be announced in the future. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

OpenAI strengthens its presence on Mac with acquisition of Software Applications

OpenAI has announced the acquisition of Software Applications Incorporated, a startup specializing in artificial intelligence interfaces for Mac. Founded in 2023, the young company is behind Sky, an intelligent assistant capable of interacting in natural language with Apple system applications. All employees are joining OpenAI, which has not disclosed the terms of the deal, which was led by Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT, and Fidji Simo, general manager of applications within the group. Sky, presented last May, allows users to write, code, or plan directly from their work environment, thanks to its ability to understand the content displayed on the screen. OpenAI sees this technology as a way to more closely integrate its tools into the Mac ecosystem and facilitate the everyday use of AI. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, was already one of the startup's initial investors, which raised $6.5m when it was founded. This acquisition is part of a sustained expansion strategy. OpenAI recently acquired Statsig, a product development platform, for $1.1bn, as well as the company io, founded by Jony Ive, for over $6bn. These moves reflect the group's desire to expand its software and hardware capabilities in order to strengthen the position of its technologies in the consumer ecosystem.

OpenAI acquires AI startup Software Applications Incorporated founded by former Apple employees

Software Applications was founded in 2023 by a team of former Apple employees. OpenAI has announced the acquisition of Software Applications Incorporated, the company behind Sky, a natural language interface for the Mac. The move marks another step in OpenAI's mission to make AI more useful, not just smarter. Sky is designed to work closely with users on their Mac. It can help with tasks like writing, planning, coding, and managing your schedule. What makes Sky unique is that it understands what's happening on your screen and can interact directly with your apps to get things done. Nick Turley, VP and Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, explained the vision behind the acquisition: "We're building a future where ChatGPT doesn't just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done. Sky's deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day." Software Applications was founded in 2023 by a team of former Apple employees, some of whom played a key role in creating the technology for the iPhone's Shortcuts app. Their expertise in macOS and product design is expected to enhance ChatGPT's ability to work more seamlessly with software and operating systems. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 available with over Rs 14,000 discount on Amazon: Check deal details here Ari Weinstein, co-founder and CEO of Software Applications, shared his excitement about joining OpenAI: "We've always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We're thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people." OpenAI plans to integrate Sky's capabilities into ChatGPT, which could mean more powerful AI features for Mac users and, eventually, broader improvements for all platforms. Also read: Samsung Galaxy A55 5G price drops by Rs 16,000 on Amazon: Check deal details here The acquisition announcement also included a note that "an investment fund associated with Sam Altman held a passive investment in Software Applications Incorporated." The deal was led by Nick Turley and Fidji Simo and approved by OpenAI's board.