OpenAI has acquired Software Applications Incorporated, the team behind the unreleased macOS automation tool Sky — known for building advanced floating AI interfaces for desktop control. The same team had earlier developed the iOS app Workflow, which Apple acquired in 2017 and rebranded as Shortcuts. The move signals OpenAI’s intention to extend ChatGPT’s functionality into direct operating system-level interaction. Source: OpenAI Newsroom.

• Sky acts as a floating AI interface on Mac desktops, capable of analyzing on-screen context and performing actions across multiple apps.
• OpenAI plans to integrate Sky’s automation layer into ChatGPT, potentially allowing users to control desktop apps, fill forms, and execute workflows without switching windows.
• The acquisition follows OpenAI’s Atlas AI browser announcement earlier this week, which also debuted as a Mac-first experience.
• Sky’s inclusion expands OpenAI’s growing list of strategic acqui-hires including Statsig, Context AI, Roi, Multi, Crossing Minds, and Alex.

Why it matters: OpenAI’s acquisition of Software Applications Inc. strengthens its positioning as the AI layer for macOS, potentially transforming ChatGPT into a system-level automation assistant. The move aligns with OpenAI’s trend of bringing in specialized teams to develop product-specific expertise — mirroring Apple’s Workflow-to-Shortcuts evolution. For developers and power users, this could mark the first step toward native AI desktop automation that combines natural language understanding with direct UI control.