OpenAI announced Thursday it will acquire Ona, a startup that provides secure, pre-configured cloud environments where artificial intelligence agents can access tools, systems and context. The acquisition will allow OpenAI's coding assistant, Codex, to take on longer-running tasks and help more organizations deploy agents into production. OpenAI did not disclose the terms of the acquisition, which is still subject to customary closing conditions, and Ona's staff will join the Codex team once the deal closes. The move comes as software developers increasingly embrace AI agents as part of their workflows, with OpenAI racing against chief rival Anthropic and its Claude Code assistant.
Ona Technology Integration with Codex
Ona's technology will enable Codex to handle longer-running tasks by providing secure cloud environments where AI agents can access necessary tools, systems and context. Once the deal closes, Ona's staff will join OpenAI and work on the Codex team. Ona CEO Johannes Landgraf wrote in a LinkedIn post that selling the company "feels like our life's work just got bigger and more important."
Codex User Growth Amid AI Coding Competition
Codex supports more than 5 million weekly active users, up from 3 million in April. OpenAI has been pouring investment into Codex in recent months as the AI coding assistant market heats up. The company's chief rival, Anthropic, has experienced explosive growth over the last year, driven in part by the popularity of its own AI coding assistant, Claude Code. Anthropic does not disclose the number of Claude Code users. OpenAI confidentially filed its prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, just days after Anthropic submitted its own confidential filing with regulators.
OpenAI Expands Through Strategic Acquisitions
OpenAI has made multiple acquisitions in recent months. In March, it announced it would purchase the cybersecurity startup Promptfoo, after acquiring the health-care tech startup Torch for roughly $60 million in January. In October, OpenAI acquired the startup Software Applications, which made an AI-interface dubbed Sky for Apple Mac users. In May of 2025, OpenAI announced it bought Jony Ive's AI devices startup io for more than $6 billion.
FAQ
What did OpenAI announce on Thursday regarding Ona?
OpenAI announced Thursday it will acquire Ona, a startup that provides secure, pre-configured cloud environments for AI agents. The acquisition will support OpenAI's Codex coding assistant by enabling it to take on longer-running tasks and help organizations deploy agents into production.
How many users does OpenAI's Codex currently have?
Codex supports more than 5 million weekly active users, up from 3 million in April. OpenAI did not disclose the financial terms of the Ona acquisition, which is still subject to customary closing conditions.
