OpenAI buys Sky, an AI interface for Mac

OpenAI announced on Thursday it announced Software Applications, Inc. acquired, the makers of an AI-powered natural language interface for Mac computers called Sky.

The software product, which has not yet been released to the public, is designed to work with you all day long as you use apps on the computer, write, plan, code, and more. Like AI browsers, Sky can see what’s on your screen and take action in your apps.

This move is an important step toward embedding OpenAI’s technology into the daily lives of consumers and Mac-based businesses.

“We’ve always wanted computers to be more powerful, more adaptable, and more intuitive. With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That’s why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats across your desktop to help you think and create. We’re excited to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people,” said Software Applications co-founder and CEO Ari Weinstein, in a statement.

It is striking that the team behind Sky had a 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 in August 2023 to found Software Applications. Sky’s third co-founder and COO, Kim Beverettwas a senior program and product manager at Apple, where she worked for almost a decade on technologies such as Safari, WebKit, Privacy, Messages, Mail, Phone, FaceTime and SharePlay.

Apple, which has lagged behind in AI so far, is expected to launch an overhauled Siri with AI smarts next year. Apple has already released other features that use the AI ​​technology known as Apple Intelligence, including writing assistants, live translation, image creation, visual search and more. It also works with OpenAI to disable questions that Siri can’t answer on 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 directly into their apps.

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 among some of its more security-oriented customers. Agentic AI is still in its infancy, and recent reviews indicate that AI browsers pose many security risks. As a result, it may take Apple some time to launch a Mac AI system comparable to Sky.

Deal terms for the OpenAI acquisition were not disclosed, but the Sky 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 Pitch book. OpenAI announced that Altman had a passive interest in the startup through an investment fund.

The deal was led by ChatGPT head Nick Turley and OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, and approved by OpenAI’s board.