OpenAI has officially acquired Software Applications, Inc., the company behind Sky, a next-generation AI interface for Mac computers designed to act as a digital companion across daily tasks.
Although Sky hasn’t yet been publicly launched, it was created to integrate seamlessly into the user’s workflow — assisting with writing, coding, scheduling, and other everyday activities. Much like AI-powered browsers, the tool can view what’s on your screen and interact with applications directly, effectively becoming a hands-on virtual assistant.
This acquisition highlights OpenAI’s ambition to bring its artificial intelligence deeper into both consumer experiences and professional environments, particularly on Apple’s Mac ecosystem.
Ari Weinstein, co-founder and CEO of Software Applications, said, “Our goal has always been to make computers feel more personal and intuitive. With large language models, that dream becomes possible. Sky was built as a creative partner that floats above your desktop to help you think and build. Joining OpenAI allows us to take this mission to a global scale.”
Weinstein and his co-founder Conrad Kramer have a notable track record — they previously built Workflow, an automation tool later acquired by Apple and transformed into the widely used Shortcuts app. Their third co-founder, Kim Beverett, spent nearly a decade at Apple leading projects for Safari, Messages, Mail, FaceTime, and other core apps before co-founding Software Applications in 2023.
Apple, meanwhile, is ramping up its own artificial intelligence initiatives. The company is expected to debut an upgraded Siri with deeper AI capabilities next year, alongside its broader Apple Intelligence suite — a collection of tools for writing assistance, image creation, live translation, and more. Apple has also partnered with OpenAI to allow Siri to forward complex queries to ChatGPT.
Still, Sky’s capabilities may push beyond Apple’s cautious approach to AI. Its ability to view and act on screen content could raise privacy questions among users who prioritize data security. Such “agentic AI” systems, while promising, are still in early development stages and come with potential safety and privacy concerns.
While financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, reports show that Software Applications raised $6.5 million from investors including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Figma CEO Dylan Field, Context Ventures, and Stellation Capital. The deal was led internally by OpenAI executives Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications, and Nick Turley, Head of ChatGPT, with approval from the company’s board.
