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 for writing, planning, coding, and more. Similar to AI browsers, Sky can see what is on your screen and take action in your apps for you.
This move is a significant step toward embedding OpenAI’s technology into consumers’ everyday lives and within businesses that run on Mac.
The team behind Sky has a history of successful exits. Co-founders Ari 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 ten 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 capabilities 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 is also working with OpenAI to send queries Siri cannot 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 acquisition were not revealed, but Sky’s maker had raised six and a half million dollars from investors, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Figma CEO Dylan Field, Context Ventures, and Stellation Capital. 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.