OpenAI Acquires Python Toolmaker Astral to Challenge Anthropic in Developer Market

OpenAI has agreed to acquire Astral, a prominent Python development toolmaker, in a move designed to strengthen its position against rival Anthropic in the rapidly expanding market for AI-powered coding assistants.

The acquisition will integrate Astral's suite of developer tools into OpenAI's Codex platform, the Microsoft-backed company's AI coding system. Financial terms were not disclosed. Astral founder and CEO Charlie Marsh said in a statement that "OpenAI will continue supporting our open-source tools after the deal closes."

The transaction comes as OpenAI reports significant traction for Codex, which now claims more than 2 million weekly active users—a three-fold increase in user count and five-fold jump in usage since the beginning of the year. The company launched a desktop application for its coding tools earlier this year.

Astral has emerged as a significant force within the Python community, building tools focused on improving speed and reliability in Python development. The acquisition gives OpenAI direct access to infrastructure widely used by developers in one of the world's most popular programming languages.

(OpenAI is led by CEO Sam Altman and launched its Codex platform last year as part of a broader push into developer-focused AI products.)

The deal intensifies OpenAI's rivalry with Anthropic, which has gained substantial traction among software developers with its Claude Code tool. Both companies are vying for dominance in AI coding assistants, a market seen as critical to broader enterprise AI adoption. OpenAI's move to absorb established open-source tooling represents a strategic bet that controlling developer infrastructure will prove decisive in the competitive landscape.