OpenAI Acquires Sky, Enhancing Mac Integration with Advanced AI Interface

Daily Technology

24/10/2025

OpenAI has bought Software Applications, Inc., the small company that built Sky, an AI tool that lets Mac owners talk to their computer in plain words. OpenAI wants its newest tech to sit inside the everyday tools people open on a Mac, whether at home or at work.

Key Takeaways

OpenAI now owns Sky, a Mac assistant that talks back and helps people work faster.
Sky watches the screen and clicks, types or opens items for the user.
The same founders sold Workflow to Apple years ago - it turned into the Shortcuts app.
The deal lets OpenAI race Apple in the contest to control AI on Mac hardware.

Sky - An Intuitive AI Companion for Mac

Sky is a still unreleased program that stays open all day and helps with writing planning and code. It peers at whatever appears on the display and carries out steps inside other apps, much like a browser that also pushes buttons for you.

Ari Weinstein, co founder and CEO of Software Applications, said he is eager to join OpenAI. “We want computers to feel less rigid and more helpful. Large language models let us stitch that dream into one tool. We built Sky to hover above the desktop and think alongside you. We are excited to ship that idea to hundreds of millions of users,” he said.

A Team with a Proven Track Record

Weinstein and Conrad Kramer earlier built Workflow, which Apple bought and rebuilt into Shortcuts. Both left Apple in August 2023 and started Software Applications. The third founder besides COO, Kim Beverett, spent almost ten years at Apple guiding Safari, WebKit and FaceTime.

OpenAI's Strategic Move Amidst Apple's AI Push

The purchase lands while Apple adds more AI to its own products. Apple plans a smarter Siri next year and already ships writing helps and live translation under the label “Apple Intelligence.” Apple also sends hard questions to ChatGPT and gives programmers a toolkit to plug AI into any Mac app.

Yet Apple's strict privacy rules may slow agents like Sky, because those agents must read the screen. Early agent software also brings safety worries - Apple still has room to craft its own Mac assistant.

Deal Details and Leadership

The price was not shared, but Pitchbook lists that the startup raised $6.5 million from backers including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman or Figma CEO Dylan Field. OpenAI said Altman put money in through a fund and played no active role. Nick Turley, who leads ChatGPT next to Fidji Simo, who runs OpenAI Apps, drove the deal and the board signed off.

2025-10-16

Microsoft's New Windows Feature for Handhelds is a Game-Changer, But Not for Everyone

Microsoft's new 'full screen experience' for handheld PCs is exclusive to the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, offering improved gaming access and performance but facing early bugs and installation challenges for other devices.