OpenAI Hires the Team Behind Xcode Coding Assistant Alex
OpenAI hires the team behind Xcode coding assistant Alex, marking another strategic move to strengthen its AI coding portfolio. The team, which built a tool that seamlessly integrated AI models into Apple’s Xcode, will now join OpenAI’s Codex division—the group developing advanced AI coding agents.
Image Credits:Alex Codes
Why This Matters for Developers
Alex gained attention as a Y Combinator-backed startup in 2024, offering developers an AI-powered boost inside Xcode. At the time, Apple’s platform lacked built-in AI capabilities, making Alex a standout solution. Things shifted when Apple updated Xcode to natively support ChatGPT and other AI integrations, raising questions about Alex’s future.
By bringing this small but skilled team on board, OpenAI reinforces its focus on improving Codex and keeping its edge in developer tools.
The Founder’s Perspective
Daniel Edrisian, founder of Alex, confirmed the news on X. He reflected on the journey of building what he described as “the best coding agent for iOS and macOS apps,” despite early skepticism about adding AI into Apple’s developer suite.
Edrisian emphasized that while Alex as a standalone app will no longer be available for download after October 1, existing users will continue to receive support. However, no new features will be added going forward.
What Happens to Alex Users?
For developers already using Alex, the app will remain functional, though it’s essentially in maintenance mode. The blog post from Alex’s team confirmed that support will continue as long as there’s an active user base, but innovation on the product has officially paused.
This transition signals that OpenAI’s focus is on absorbing the talent and experience behind Alex, rather than competing directly with Apple’s Xcode updates.
What’s Next for OpenAI Codex?
The addition of Alex’s team to Codex could mean faster iterations on AI-assisted coding, especially for specialized development environments. OpenAI is already investing heavily in agent-driven coding tools, and this acqui-hire suggests more tailored solutions may be on the horizon.
While it’s not clear if all three team members from Alex are joining, the move shows OpenAI’s commitment to recruiting niche talent that has proven its ability to solve real developer pain points.
The Bigger Picture
Acqui-hires like this reflect a growing trend in AI, where larger players absorb smaller, innovative startups to accelerate product development. For OpenAI, acquiring the Alex team helps solidify its position in AI coding tools at a time when competition with Apple, Google, and other AI-driven developer platforms is heating up.
Whether this results in new Codex features inside OpenAI’s ecosystem—or more seamless integrations with platforms like Xcode—developers should expect meaningful updates in the coming months.
