OpenAI has already completed six acquisitions in 2026, matching its total from all of last year as the AI giant accelerates its M&A strategy. The San Francisco-based company announced its latest purchase on March 19, acquiring Astral, a creator of open-source tools for software developers. This follows January's acquisition of three companies including Convogo, Torch Health, and Crixet.

Since 2023, OpenAI has acquired 17 companies, with eight purchases in 2025 alone. The company's most expensive deal came in May 2025 when it paid $6.5 billion for Io, a 1-year-old startup developing AI-powered devices. Not all acquisitions succeed - OpenAI's planned $3 billion purchase of Windsurf collapsed last July. Despite reported unprofitability, OpenAI closed a record $110 billion funding round in February at an $840 billion valuation.

By contrast, OpenAI's rival Anthropic has been far less acquisitive, making only one known purchase this year and two in 2025. The AI sector's appetite for acqui-hires and smaller purchases continues to drive momentum in startup M&A. While OpenAI's aggressive acquisition strategy aims to boost offerings and maintain competitive advantage, HSBC projects the company will face a $207 billion funding shortfall by 2030, raising questions about the sustainability of its current pace.