OpenAI Buys Mac Automation App to Give ChatGPT System-Level Control

OpenAI recently announced the acquisition of a company called Software Applications, best known for its newly released Mac automation app, Sky, which debuted earlier this year.

The pedigree of Software Applications is remarkable—the founding team previously created the acclaimed iOS automation tool Workflow, which Apple acquired in 2017 and later integrated into its operating systems as Shortcuts, now a core feature across iOS and macOS.

OpenAI’s acquisition clearly reflects its recognition of Software Applications’ deep expertise in system-level automation and integration, a capability increasingly vital in the age of Agentic AI—intelligent systems capable of performing actions on behalf of users.

As the Software Applications team explained, “Whether you’re chatting, writing, planning, or coding, Sky understands what’s on your screen and can use your apps to take action.” Following the acquisition, all Software Applications employees will join OpenAI, with the company expressing excitement about bringing its technology to a broader audience.

OpenAI stated that it intends to integrate Sky’s macOS-level automation and product craftsmanship directly into ChatGPT, suggesting that future versions of ChatGPT may be able to interact more seamlessly with third-party macOS applications to execute complex, cross-app tasks.

Interestingly, this move mirrors Apple’s own direction with the next generation of Siri. In 2024, Apple previewed plans to enable Siri to perform actions within third-party apps, a capability expected to officially launch in spring 2026.

The acquisition also follows OpenAI’s recent expansion into app integrations for ChatGPT. With the addition of Sky’s technology, ChatGPT will gain the ability to assist users in carrying out more sophisticated on-screen operations.

The purchase of Software Applications marks the latest step in OpenAI’s rapid expansion. Just days earlier, the company unveiled its first web browser, ChatGPT Atlas (already available on macOS), and earlier this month, it announced the acquisition of Roi, an AI-powered personal investment application.

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