ChatGPT is already deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem thanks to a partnership between OpenAI and Apple to use ChatGPT models to power some Apple Intelligence features.
Now, OpenAI has taken the initiative to tread even further into Apple’s territory.
On Thursday, OpenAI announced that it acquired Software Applications Incorporated, the developer of an AI interface for Mac called Sky.
Sky is an AI-powered natural language interface that provides AI functions for a user directly on their computer. It appears to work like AI assistant web browsers; however, in Sky’s case, the functionality is running directly on Mac instead of through the browser.
“We’re building a future where ChatGPT doesn’t just respond to your prompts, it helps you get things done,” said VP and Head of ChatGPT Nick Turley, who led the acquisition deal, in a blog post. “Sky’s deep integration with the Mac accelerates our vision of bringing AI directly into the tools people use every day.”
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There is a demo video released back in May showcasing what Sky can do on Mac. However, Sky has yet to be released to the public.
The Sky demo showcases the Mac AI assistant adding dinner plans made by text message to a user’s calendar, researching nearby bars to go to beforehand, and responding back to the text message with the pre-dinner plan suggestion.
“We’ve always wanted computers to be more empowering, customizable, and intuitive,” said Software Applications Incorporated CEO and co-founder Ari Weinstein said in an announcement blog. “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.”
Sky looks to work like most other agentic AI systems. The AI assistant requires numerous permissions, including the ability to view and record a user’s screen, in order to take actions based on what the user is looking to do. Cybersecurity experts and privacy advocates have already shared concerns regarding this.
Perhaps, with Sky being a native-based application instead of an AI agent built into a web browser with its own security concerns, OpenAI is hoping this software will alleviate those fears among consumers.
But we won’t really know much about that or Sky itself until it’s officially released to the public.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
