OpenAI has announced the hiring of the team behind Alex Codes, an AI tool designed for developers using Apple’s Xcode. Alex Codes was founded in early 2024 and went viral almost immediately. Originally backed by Y-Combinator, it provides an easy and seamless way to integrate AI through Apple’s development suite. Daniel Edrisian, founder of Alex Codes, shared the exciting news. He announced the good news on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The Alex Codes team, consisting of three members, will be joining OpenAI’s Codex division, which focuses on developing AI coding agents. Edrisian said he couldn’t be happier with the move. He was very personal about the way Alex Codes has transitioned from beginning to now being the best coding buddy for writing iOS and macOS applications.
“When we started out, Xcode had no AI. Building a ‘Cursor for Xcode’ sounded crazy, but we managed to do it anyway. And, over time, we built the best coding agent for iOS & MacOS apps,” – Daniel Edrisian
Since this acquisition, OpenAI has announced that Alex Codes will remain to serve its current users. After October 1, the app will not be available for download. Along with the migration, the team will cease to develop new features from that date. Their product will only stay in their control as long as the public continues using it.
This tactical acquisition follows OpenAI’s historical M.O, one where the company has picked up teams instead of companies. Last week, OpenAI made a big move of its own, acquiring product testing startup Statsig for $1.1 billion. These kinds of moves demonstrate OpenAI’s focus on improving their products and services by bringing teams of talent in-house to further bolster their work.
The tech landscape continues to move at a breakneck pace. Following this acquisition, OpenAI is advancing its coding prowess by developing new AI-driven solutions. Our new Codex division will allow to leverage the expertise and skills of Edrisian and his team. They want to build upon their AI coding solutions to do more.
