OpenAI has acquired NextSlide, a startup that developed artificial intelligence tools for generating presentations from various inputs. NextSlide founder Ahmed Beshry announced the acquisition, stating that the entire NextSlide team has joined OpenAI to contribute to ChatGPT development. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Beshry revealed the deal closed earlier in 2026, with the public announcement coming several months later. NextSlide's product allowed users to generate polished, editable slide decks from prompts, notes, documents, or research. Beshry stated the company's goal was to make visual communication more accessible, enabling individuals to share ideas without needing extensive design skills.
This acquisition aligns with OpenAI's broader strategy to expand ChatGPT's functionality beyond conversational AI into productivity applications. Reports indicate OpenAI aims to position ChatGPT as a comprehensive tool for office tasks, including drafting documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. The integration of NextSlide's technology suggests OpenAI is building out an office suite within ChatGPT, potentially competing with established productivity software.
Ahmed Beshry brings prior experience in successful startup exits. He co-founded Caper AI, a smart-cart and cashier-less checkout company, which Instacart acquired for $350 million in 2021. His track record indicates a focus on building technology that streamlines everyday tasks.
The move into presentation generation follows other strategic acquisitions by OpenAI. The company has reportedly acquired other smaller teams, including personal finance applications Hiro and Roi, alongside larger deals such as io, a hardware startup, and analytics firm Statsig. This pattern suggests OpenAI is acquiring specific capabilities and talent to integrate directly into its existing products, rather than maintaining separate brands.
The acquisition also highlights the competitive landscape in the AI industry, particularly concerning productivity software. While Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, offers its own presentation software, PowerPoint, OpenAI's direct entry into this area through NextSlide indicates a potential competitive dynamic. This development could influence how users choose between AI integrated into existing tools or AI-native platforms.
OpenAI has not provided a public timeline for when NextSlide's presentation features will become available within ChatGPT, nor has it clarified the future of any standalone NextSlide product or its existing customers. Beshry's statement about continuing to build "AI products that help people create, communicate, and turn their ideas into meaningful work" serves as a mission statement for the integrated team.