OpenAI announced on Thursday that it has acquired Software Applications, Inc., the makers of an AI-powered natural language interface for Mac computers called Sky. This product, which is yet to be publicly released, is designed to work alongside users as they use apps for writing, planning, coding and more.
The acquisition is a step forward in OpenAI’s efforts to embed its software into consumers’ everyday lives, and 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.
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Meanwhile, Nick Turley, the VP and 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.”
OpenAI also disclosed that an investment fund associated with the company’s CEO held a passive investment in Software Applications, and that the acquisition was led by Turley and Fidji Simo and approved by the independent Transaction and Audit Committees of OpenAI’s board of directors.
Sky’s co-founders include Ari Weinstein and Conrad Kramer who previously founded Workflow together, 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. The third co-founder, 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.
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The deal terms for the acquisition were not revealed, however 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 also recently launched GPT Atlas, its AI-powered browser. The company says Atlas will first roll out on MacOS with support for Windows, iOS, and Android coming soon, and that the product will be available to all free users at launch.
According to OpenAI, Atlas looks and feels similar to existing browsers, but is built around ChatGPT, which means users will be able to access ChatGPT to create summaries, ask questions and complete tasks as they navigate across any page on the web. Atlas users will see an “Ask ChatGPT” button on the top right corner of every web page, and clicking it will open up the chatbot in a companion sidebar.;