OpenAI is jumping into the race to make AI smarter at handling tasks on macOS. They recently acquired a company called Software Applications Incorporated, which makes tools for generative AI interfaces. Their goal? To build Sky, a new AI assistant that works with natural language commands to help Mac users automate tasks across their apps. This move puts OpenAI in line with rivals like Anthropic and Google, who are also developing AI tools to control computers more intelligently.

AI That Understands and Acts on Your Screen

Sky is designed to understand what’s happening on your Mac screen and then take actions based on your instructions. Whether you’re chatting, writing, planning, or coding, Sky can interpret your commands and use your apps to get things done. The idea is to make controlling your Mac as simple as talking to it. Instead of clicking through menus or writing scripts, users can just tell Sky what they want, and it handles the rest.

This isn’t the first time someone has tried to bring AI control to desktops. Last year, Anthropic showed off a tool called “computer use” that allowed their language model to see what was on the screen and then move the mouse, type, and switch windows. This was a big step beyond traditional automation tools, which often needed manual setup and constant updates. The problem with older methods was that whenever the interface changed, the automation scripts needed to be rewritten. Anthropic’s AI could understand the screen content and adapt without needing so much maintenance.

Big Tech Plays in AI-Powered Computer Control

Soon after Anthropic’s demo, Google jumped into the game with a project called Jarvis. It was built to automate tasks like research and shopping inside the Chrome browser, using their Gemini 2.0 language model. Around the same time, OpenAI reportedly started working on similar capabilities back in February of last year. Their acquisition of Sky is seen as a key move to capture a share of this emerging market, focused on agentic AI—AI that can act on your behalf without constant supervision.

Experts say OpenAI plans to target workflows that span multiple apps, offering help with coding, automation, and collaboration tools to boost productivity. They’re especially interested in macOS because it’s popular among developers and creative professionals. That means a big potential user base eager for smarter automation tools.

OpenAI’s Broader Plans for Mac Automation

OpenAI isn’t stopping at Sky. Just last week, they launched ChatGPT Atlas, a web browser built with ChatGPT inside. Atlas can handle tasks like making reservations or bookings directly from the browser window, similar to Google’s Jarvis. OpenAI plans to expand Atlas to Windows, iOS, and Android, making these AI-powered tools accessible across devices.

Microsoft, which partners closely with OpenAI, has also rolled out similar AI features. Its Edge browser now includes Copilot Mode, offering AI-driven assistance for browsing and automation on Windows. This shows that big tech companies are racing to embed AI into everyday computing, aiming to make user interactions more seamless and productive.

In summary, OpenAI’s move to bring advanced AI automation to Macs signals a new era for desktop productivity. By integrating Sky into ChatGPT, they hope to make controlling and automating tasks on macOS as easy as chatting. With competitors like Google and Anthropic already showing what’s possible, the future of AI-powered desktop control looks bright—and busy.

Inspired by

• https://www.computerworld.com/article/4078662/openai-seeks-to-automate-computer-use-for-macs-in-the-enterprise-2.html

Sources

• gmpg.org
• infoworld.com
• cio.com
• cio.com
• cio.com