Why did OpenAI acquire a screen-sharing startup?

New York-based startup OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it has acquired screen sharing and collaboration software company Multi. The news comes less than a week after the AI ​​giant announced it had acquired analytical database provider Rockset.

“Lately, we’ve been asking ourselves how we should interact with computers — not on computers, or with computers, but really with computers, and with AI. We think this is one of the most important product questions of our time,” the company wrote.

OpenAI declined to comment on the Maruti acquisition. DecryptionHowever, according to one report, Venture BeatA source close to OpenAI confirmed the deal.

Founded in 2019 as Remotion, Multi makes screen-sharing and collaboration software for Macs that lets up to 10 people work on a project simultaneously, describing its approach as “multiplayer.” But as a result of the acquisition, the startup said it would shut down its service and delete all user data by July 24.

According to the company, the Multi team will join OpenAI to work on developing ChatGPT applications, especially for desktop computers. In fact, Multi co-founder Alexander Embiricos has already called on ChatGPT users to send feedback and bug reports on Twitter.

“Lots to say, but what’s most important? Talk to users and Ship.”

Multi’s announcement comes on the same day that OpenAI announced that its ChatGPT desktop app for Mac is now broadly available to users with the latest operating systems running on Apple Silicon chips.

While Multi was clear that its application was being discontinued, the announcement on Twitter sparked speculation about what ChatGPT might be able to do with access to the screen sharing and collaborative editing features that its product offers. OpenAI noted that the current ChatGPT app for Mac already lets users “chat about emails, screenshots, and anything on your screen.”

However, giving AI tools access to all the information on a computer screen has been cited as a privacy and security concern.

Microsoft faced immediate backlash in May after releasing Copilot+ PC Recall software, a program that periodically takes screenshots of users’ computer screens and indexes the contents for later reference. Following an uproar over privacy and security concerns, Microsoft withdrew its planned release and said it would be available only to beta testers on an opt-in basis going forward.

OpenAI has frequently come under fire for its rapid growth and alleged lack of oversight over its security. In June, exiled whistleblower Edward Snowden slammed the company for adding former director and head of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), Gen. Paul Nakasone, to its board of directors.

“They’ve completely unmasked. Never trust OpenAI or any of their products (ChatGPT, etc.). Only one reason to appoint the Director of the NSA to the Board,” Snowden wrote on Twitter at the time. “This is a deliberate, calculated betrayal of the rights of every person on Earth. Let me be a warning.”

The acquisition of Multi comes just over a month after OpenAI engineer Javier “Javi” Soto tweeted that the company was “looking to hire talented macOS and Windows engineers.”

Maruti did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Decryption.

Editor: Ryan Ozawa.