OpenAI to buy Python toolmaker and revamp ChatGPT

OpenAI said on Thursday (March 19, 2026) it will buy Python toolmaker Astral, as the ChatGPT maker seeks to strengthen its portfolio against rival Anthropic to gain more share in the artificial intelligence coding tools market. The companies ‌did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, ‌but said the acquisition ‌will ⁠bring Astral’s suite of developer ⁠tools into the Microsoft-backed startup’s AI coding system, Codex.

Sam Altman-led OpenAI, which launched ​its Codex ‌platform last year, is stepping up competition, as Anthropic has gained traction with its Claude Code ‌tool among software developers .OpenAI launched ​a desktop app for its coding tools ⁠earlier this year.

In a separate development, the AI firm is reportedly unifying its ChatGPT app, coding platform Codex, and browser app into one desktop ‘superapp,’ according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The company’s head of application Fidgi Simo will reportedly oversee the product revamp with support from Greg Brockman, who currently leads the firm’s computing efforts.

OpenAI’s Codex has more ‌than two million weekly active users, marking a three-fold increase in users and a five-fold jump in usage since the beginning of the year. Astral has ‌become a major player in the ​Python community. Its tools are designed to improve speed ⁠and reliability in Python development.

“OpenAI will continue ⁠supporting our open-source tools after the deal closes,” Astral ‌founder and CEO Charlie Marsh said in a statement.