OpenAI to buy Python toolmaker Astral to take on Anthropic

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March 19, 2026 10:15 AM EDT

FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo

March 19 (Reuters) - OpenAI ‌said on ​Thursday ​it will acquire Python toolmaker Astral, as the ChatGPT owner looks to ‌strengthen its portfolio against rival Anthropic ⁠and gain more share in the artificial intelligence coding ‌tools market.

The companies did ‌not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but said the acquisition will bring ​Astral's suite of developer tools into the Microsoft-backed startup's AI coding system, Codex.

Sam ⁠Altman-led OpenAI, which launched its Codex platform last year, is ​stepping up competition, as Anthropic has gained traction with its Claude Code tool ​among software developers.

OpenAI launched ‌a desktop app for its coding tools earlier this year.

The company said ⁠on Thursday that Codex has more than 2 million weekly active users, marking a three-fold increase ⁠in users and a five-fold jump in usage since ​the beginning of the year.

Astral has become a major player in the Python community. Its tools are ‌designed to improve speed and reliability in Python development.

"OpenAI will continue ‌supporting our open-source tools after the deal ⁠closes," Astral founder and ‌CEO Charlie Marsh ​said in a statement.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini ‌Ganguli)


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