OpenAI buys Mac AI interface builder Software Applications Incorporated

The start-up is behind ‘Sky’, a natural language interface for Mac computers.

OpenAI has acquired Software Applications Incorporated, a start-up that builds AI interfaces for Mac computers.

The terms of the deal remain undisclosed, which was led by the company’s applications CEO Fidji Simo and head of ChatGPT Nick Turley. In announcing the deal, OpenAI disclosed that “an investment fund associated with Sam Altman held a passive investment in Software Applications Incorporated”.

The 2023-founded company is best known for ‘Sky’, a natural language interface for Apple’s Mac computers, which enables users to prompt the AI to help with writing, coding or managing their planning. Simply put, Sky can analyse the data on a computer and take prompt-based action using apps. OpenAI wants to incorporate Sky’s MacOS integration into ChatGPT.

“We’re building a future where ChatGPT doesn’t just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done. Sky’s deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day,” said Turley.

Ari Weinstein, the co-founder and CEO of Software Applications Incorporated added, “We’ve always wanted computers to be more empowering, customisable and intuitive.

“With LLMs, we can finally put the pieces together. That’s why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats over your desktop to help you think and create. We’re thrilled to join OpenAI to bring that vision to hundreds of millions of people.”

Weinstein, a graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, had previously worked for Apple for more than six years. All members of Software Applications – the company’s website lists 10 – will be joining OpenAI.

OpenAI has made several headline announcements in recent weeks, from launching a ChatGPT-powered browser (and officially entering into direct competition with browser giants such as Google), to launching a controversial TikTok-like vertical social app where users can create and post AI-generated videos.

The company, that’s reportedly worth $500bn (making it the world’s most valuable private company), recently also said that it would be loosening reins to allow more sexually explicit content on ChatGPT.

Its constant new offerings to an ever-growing user-base comes as a result of a several major deals to increase its AI capacity – including a 10GW custom chip deal with Broadcom, a 6GW deal to use AMD’s AI infrastructure and a 4GW deal for Oracle’s computing power worth $300bn, all while announcing that it would raise its Nvidia purchases over time.

OpenAI has committed to spending more than $1trn over the next decade.

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Updated, 11.30am, 24 October 2025: This article was updated to clarify that an investment fund associated with Sam Altman held a passive investment in Software Applications Incorporated, not that this fund made the acquisition.