OpenAI Acquires Sky AI Interface from Software Applications, Boosting Mac Capabilities
Key Points
- OpenAI acquired Software Applications, makers of the Sky AI desktop assistant for Mac.
- Sky can see the user’s screen and act within apps, offering assistance for writing, coding, and more.
- Co‑founders Ari Weinstein and Conrad Kramer previously sold Workflow to Apple, where it became Shortcuts.
- Third co‑founder Kim Beverett spent nearly a decade at Apple working on Safari, WebKit, and core services.
- Apple is developing AI features under Apple Intelligence and plans an AI‑enhanced Siri next year.
- Apple collaborates with OpenAI to route Siri queries to ChatGPT for unanswered questions.
- Sky raised $6.5 million from investors including Sam Altman and Dylan Field before the acquisition.
- The deal was led by OpenAI executives Nick Turley and Fidji Simo and approved by the board.
OpenAI announced it has acquired Software Applications, Inc., the developer of Sky—a desktop AI assistant for Mac that can see the screen and act within apps. The purchase brings together OpenAI's large language models with a product designed to work alongside users throughout their day, from writing to coding. Sky’s founders, Ari Weinstein and Conrad Kramer, previously sold Workflow to Apple, where it became Shortcuts, while co‑founder Kim Beverett spent a decade at Apple on Safari and other core services. The deal, led by OpenAI executives Nick Turley and Fidji Simo, adds a new layer to Apple’s emerging AI ecosystem, which includes Apple Intelligence and a partnership that routes Siri queries to ChatGPT.
OpenAI Expands Into Mac Desktop AI With Sky Acquisition
OpenAI announced on Thursday that it has acquired Software Applications, Inc., the maker of Sky, an AI‑powered natural‑language interface for Mac computers. Sky is designed to operate alongside the user throughout the day, assisting with tasks such as writing, planning, coding, and more. Similar to emerging AI browsers, Sky can see what is displayed on the screen and take actions within applications on the user’s behalf.
The acquisition marks a significant step for OpenAI to embed its technology into everyday consumer devices and business workflows that run on the Mac platform. By integrating Sky’s screen‑aware capabilities with OpenAI’s large language models, the combined offering aims to provide a more intuitive and powerful user experience across macOS.
Founders’ Background Links to Apple
Sky’s co‑founders Ari Weinstein and Conrad Kramer previously co‑founded Workflow, a popular automation app that Apple acquired and rebranded as Shortcuts. Both founders continued to work at Apple for several years before launching Software Applications in August 2023. The third co‑founder and chief operating officer, Kim Beverett, spent nearly a decade at Apple as a senior program and product manager, contributing to technologies such as Safari, WebKit, Privacy, Messages, Mail, Phone, FaceTime, and SharePlay.
These deep ties to Apple’s ecosystem underscore the strategic relevance of Sky’s capabilities for both OpenAI and Apple’s evolving AI roadmap.
Apple’s AI Landscape and Privacy Considerations
Apple has been perceived as lagging behind in artificial intelligence, but the company is expected to launch a revamped Siri with advanced AI features next year. Apple already offers a suite of AI‑driven functionalities under the banner of Apple Intelligence, including writing helpers, live translation, image creation, visual search, and more. In addition, Apple is collaborating with OpenAI to forward Siri queries that cannot be answered locally to ChatGPT.
Apple also provides the Foundation Models framework, which gives developers access to local AI models for integration directly into their apps. While Apple emphasizes privacy as a core principle of its AI offerings, the screen‑aware, agentic nature of Sky could raise concerns among privacy‑focused users. The early stage of agentic AI and associated safety risks suggest that Apple may take time to develop a comparable Mac AI system.
Deal Details and Investor Background
Specific terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Prior to the deal, Sky had raised $6.5 million from investors including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Figma CEO Dylan Field, Context Ventures, and Stellation Capital. Altman’s stake was described as a passive interest held through an investment fund.
The acquisition was led internally at OpenAI by Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT, and Fidji Simo, the company’s CEO of Applications, and received approval from OpenAI’s board.
Industry Context and Future Outlook
The purchase of Sky positions OpenAI to deliver a more seamless, desktop‑integrated AI experience for Mac users, leveraging the founders’ extensive background in Apple’s software ecosystem. As Apple continues to roll out AI enhancements across its platforms and deepens its partnership with OpenAI, the integration of Sky could serve as a bridge between OpenAI’s generative capabilities and Apple’s hardware and software environment.
The acquisition also highlights the broader trend of AI startups focusing on agentic, screen‑aware assistants that can perform actions within user interfaces, a capability that may become a standard expectation for future AI‑enhanced operating systems.