OpenAI acquired the startup Astral, which develops AI tools for programmers.

OpenAI completed the acquisition of startup Astral

On Thursday, OpenAI announced its purchase of the small startup Astral, known for its popular open‑source tools for software developers. The new Astral team will join OpenAI’s structure and work on advancing the Codex AI programming assistant. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

> “Our mission remains unchanged: to make programming more productive, to create tools that radically change how people think about software development,” said Astral founder and CEO Charlie Marsh in his blog.

Why it matters

According to CNBC data, demand for code‑assistants has surged sharply over the past year. OpenAI is looking to increase its market share by displacing competitors such as Anthropic and Cursor, which also offer developer solutions.

* Codex already serves more than 2 million active users per week.
* Since early 2026 the user base has tripled.
* The deal with Astral has not yet completed formal closing procedures and is awaiting regulatory approval.

Context of recent acquisitions

OpenAI continues to expand its portfolio:

- May 2025 – purchase of startup io for $6.4 million (AI‑powered devices).
- January 2026 – acquisition of Torch (healthcare technology).
- Earlier this month – purchase of Promptfoo (cybersecurity).

In December, the company hired Albert Lee from Google as head of corporate development, underscoring its strategy of active mergers and acquisitions to strengthen competitive positions.