OpenAI announced On Thursday, the corporate acquired Software Applications, Inc., maker of an AI-powered natural language interface for Mac computers called Sky.
The software product, which has not been released to the general public, is meant to accompany you throughout the day as you utilize apps in your computer, write, plan, program, and more. Similar to AI browsers, Sky can see what's in your screen and take motion for you in your apps.
The move is a major step toward embedding OpenAI technology into the on a regular basis lives of consumers and businesses running on Mac.
“We've at all times wanted computers to be more powerful, customizable and intuitive. LLMs allow us to finally put the pieces together. That's why we built Sky, an AI experience that floats above your desktop and helps you’re thinking that and create. We're excited to affix OpenAI to bring this vision to tons of of thousands and thousands of individuals,” Ari Weinstein, co-founder and CEO of Software Applications, said in a press release Explanation.
It is noteworthy that the team behind Sky had to simply accept one other high-profile departure before that.
Weinstein And Konrad Kramer They previously co-founded Workflow, which they sold to Apple, where it became the technology now often called Shortcuts. Both worked at Apple for several more years before leaving the corporate in August 2023 to found Software Applications. Sky's third co-founder and COO, Kim Beverettwas a senior program and product manager at Apple, where she worked for nearly a decade on technologies resembling Safari, WebKit, privacy, messaging, email, phone, FaceTime and SharePlay.
Apple, which has been lagging behind in AI, is predicted to launch a revamped Siri with AI smarts next yr. Apple has already shipped other features that leverage its AI technology called Apple Intelligence, including writing assistance, live translation, image creation, visual search and more. It also works with OpenAI to route queries that Siri can't answer to ChatGPT. Apple Intelligence works across platforms, including Mac.
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Additionally, Apple offers a Foundation Models framework that gives access to local AI models and allows developers to integrate AI directly into their apps.
However, Apple values privacy as a core a part of its AI offering, and an agent system that appears at your screen and takes motion in your behalf could raise concerns amongst a few of its more security-conscious customers. Agentic AI continues to be in its infancy, and up to date reviews suggest so AI browsers pose many security risks. Therefore, it might be a while before Apple launches a Mac AI system comparable to Sky.
Terms of the deal for the OpenAI acquisition weren’t disclosed, however the maker of Sky had raised $6.5 million from investors including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Figma CEO Dylan Field, Context Ventures and Stellation Capital, based on OpenAI Pitch book. OpenAI revealed that Altman held a passive stake within the startup through an investment fund.
The deal was led by ChatGPT head Nick Turley and OpenAI's CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, and was approved by the OpenAI board.
