OpenAI Acquires King: A Leap in AI-Powered Personal Finance
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has recently acquired a groundbreaking personal finance application known as King. This move aligns with the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, showcasing OpenAI’s commitment to enhancing user experience in personal finance management. As part of this acquisition, OpenAI has brought on board King’s CEO, Sujith Vishwajit, to lead its new initiatives.
Earlier in the year, Meta made headlines by investing $14.3 billion for a 49% stake in AI Scale, while simultaneously recruiting CEO Alexandr Wang for its projects. In a similar vein, Google also secured Varun Mohan, the CEO of Windsurf, after unsuccessful negotiations with OpenAI. These strategic moves by tech giants reflect a growing trend of acquiring talent to strengthen their AI capabilities.
Sujith Vishwajit confirmed the acquisition on social media platform X, expressing enthusiasm about the future of King under OpenAI’s umbrella. He stated, “I am delighted to announce that King has been acquired by OpenAI! We initiated King three years ago to democratize access to investment opportunities.” This announcement marks a significant milestone for the startup, which aims to revolutionize how individuals manage and grow their investments.
What is King?
Founded in 2022, King is an innovative fintech startup based in New York, dedicated to making finance accessible through AI technology. The mobile application serves as a financial companion, enabling users to track various assets, including cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and stocks—all designed to provide a personalized investment experience.
In addition to its comprehensive features, King offers users a customized AI companion that adapts its responses based on personal data, such as occupation and investment goals. This tailored approach enhances user engagement and provides relevant insights, making King a standout choice in the crowded fintech space.
According to a TechCrunch report, King has successfully raised $3.6 million during its early funding phase, attracting notable investors like Balaji Srinivasan, Spark Capital, and Gradient Ventures. This financial backing demonstrates investor confidence in King’s vision of transforming personal finance management.
The King app is touted as a blend of ChatGPT’s conversational abilities with real-time market data, making it an indispensable tool for investors. However, as the company transitions into OpenAI, the remaining King’s team will depart, and operations are set to cease by October 15, 2025.
This acquisition follows OpenAI’s strategic purchases of various companies, including Context.ai, Jonny Ive’s startup, and Crossing Minds within just a few months. These acquisitions highlight OpenAI’s aggressive approach in solidifying its position at the forefront of AI development, particularly in sectors like personal finance.