OpenAI acquires NextSlide: AI presentations become part of ChatGPT
The OpenAI ecosystem continues to expand, and this time a young but promising startup, NextSlide, has come under the wing of the giant. The project's founder, Ahmed Beshri, confirmed that his team has officially joined the OpenAI structure and is now focused on advancing ChatGPT's capabilities. This is a strategic move that clearly goes beyond simple staffing reinforcement.
NextSlide was developing a highly specialized yet extremely in-demand tool: a service capable of transforming raw data—text queries, notes, corporate documents, and research materials—into structured, visually designed presentations. Moreover, users received not a static template but a fully editable product, which is critically important for the business environment.
According to Beshri, the deal was closed back in early 2026, but the details of the agreement, including financial terms, remain behind the scenes. The absence of public figures is common practice for such acquisitions, especially when it comes to technological integration rather than purchasing a user base.
To me, it's obvious that OpenAI is not just collecting talent. The integration of NextSlide into ChatGPT is a direct signal of the company's intention to take a dominant position in the office and corporate segment, where presentation generation is one of the most frequent use cases for AI. By embedding such tools directly into its flagship product, OpenAI is creating a serious barrier for competitors, who so far offer only separate plugins or third-party solutions.
This acquisition also underscores the trend toward vertical integration: instead of relying on partner developers, OpenAI prefers to control key user scenarios from within. In the coming months, we will likely see NextSlide's functionality organically merge into the ChatGPT interface, making the platform an even more versatile work tool. For the market, this means one thing: the race for "killer" AI features in the office environment is just beginning, and OpenAI is betting on being not just a chatbot but a full-fledged operating system for professionals.