OpenAI has announced the acquisition of Software Applications Incorporated, a startup founded by former Apple employees. The company is the creator of Sky, an AI assistant for Mac computers. The entire team from Software Applications Inc. will join OpenAI.
The startup’s founders, Ari Weinstein and Conrad Kramer, are known for developing the app Workflow. Apple acquired Workflow in 2017, and it became the foundation for the Shortcuts feature now integrated into iOS and macOS. Their new product, Sky, was designed as a natural language interface that understands what is on a user’s screen and can perform actions within other applications. The product had not been publicly released.
According to a statement from OpenAI, the goal is to use Sky’s deep integration with the macOS operating system for ChatGPT. Nick Turley, VP & Head of ChatGPT, said this acquisition accelerates the company’s vision of “bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day.”
Software Applications CEO Ari Weinstein stated that the team is “thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people.” Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
