As competition in the AI coding space intensifies, OpenAI has announced plans to acquire Ona, a startup known for providing secure and pre-configured cloud environments that allow AI agents to access tools, systems, and operational context.
The acquisition is expected to enhance the capabilities of OpenAI’s AI coding assistant, Codex, enabling it to handle more complex and longer-running tasks. OpenAI said Ona’s technology will also help organizations deploy AI agents into production environments more efficiently. These agents are designed to perform tasks independently on behalf of users.
While the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, the acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions. Once completed, Ona’s team will join OpenAI and work within the Codex division.
Commenting on the development, Ona CEO Johannes Landgraf said, “I always thought selling the company would feel like an ending. Instead, it feels like our life’s work just got bigger and more important.”
OpenAI, which sparked the global AI boom with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, has been increasing its focus on Codex as developers continue to adopt AI-powered coding assistants. The company is competing closely with Anthropic, whose coding assistant Claude Code has gained significant popularity over the past year.
According to OpenAI, Codex now supports more than 5 million weekly active users, up from 3 million in April. Anthropic has not publicly disclosed user numbers for Claude Code.
The announcement comes shortly after OpenAI confidentially filed its prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission, only days after Anthropic submitted a similar filing.
The acquisition also continues OpenAI’s broader expansion strategy. In recent months, the company acquired cybersecurity startup Promptfoo in March and healthcare technology startup Torch for approximately $60 million in January. Earlier acquisitions include Software Applications in October and Jony Ive’s AI devices startup io, which OpenAI acquired in May 2025 for more than $6 billion.
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