OpenAI
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- OpenAI acquired Software Applications Incorporated.
- The company is behind Sky, an AI-powered interface for Mac.
- OpenAI aims to integrate Sky’s MacOS features into ChatGPT.
OpenAI has just added to its streak of acquisitions with Software Applications Incorporated (SAI). The company, founded by former Apple employees, is better known for creating the Sky application — which, when paired with ChatGPT, has the potential to make your interactions with AI more seamless on Mac.
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Sky, which just launched earlier this year, is an AI-powered interface for MacOS that enables users to access what they need by using natural language or conversational requests, eliminating the need for manual clicks. Since Sky can understand what you are viewing on your screen and take action in apps on your behalf, when paired with ChatGPT, it should unlock new agentic experiences across more applications.
“We’re building a future where ChatGPT doesn’t just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done,” said Nick Turley, VP and Head of ChatGPT, in the announcement. “Sky’s deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day.”
The exact details of how much the acquisition cost were not disclosed, although Bloomberg reported that as part of the acquisition, OpenAI will bring on SAI’s team of a dozen people. This follows a series of acquisitions OpenAI has made in 2025, including Context.ai, Statsig, and, most notably, iO, Jony Ive’s AI device startup.
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The acquisition of Sky reflects a broader industry trend toward creating more seamless interactions between users and the tools they use on a daily basis. For example, the release of agentic AI browsers is becoming increasingly prevalent, with tools such as Perplexity’s Comet seamlessly incorporating AI throughout the entire search journey.
Earlier this week, OpenAI released ChatGPT Atlas, the company’s first AI browser. The biggest perk is that it integrates ChatGPT’s assistance into every one of your searches and tabs, helping you avoid annoying context switching.
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Apple, of course, leaned into AI with its updated Shortcuts experience, which leans into Apple Intelligence models either on-device or in Private Cloud Compute within your Shortcut, unlocking a much more advanced set of capabilities.
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For example, you could set up a Shortcut that takes all the files you add to your home screen and then sorts them into folders for you using Apple Intelligence. This highlights how AI can help you more seamlessly interact with your device, which is exactly what Sky was designed to do on Mac.
