OpenAI acquires NextSlide to embed AI presentation generation in ChatGPT

NextSlide is the latest acquisition in a deliberate strategy by OpenAI to move presentation and spreadsheet creation into ChatGPT itself, rather than relying on third-party integrations. The company has already deployed add-ins for Excel (March) and a plugin for PowerPoint (May), and by summer 2025 was testing native agents capable of generating both presentations and spreadsheets directly within the chat interface. By acquiring NextSlide, OpenAI brings in-house technology that converts unstructured input—prompts, notes, documents, and research—into finished presentations, likely enabling faster iteration and deeper integration with its core product.

Beshry's involvement signals OpenAI's commitment to this vertical: he is now on the product side building ChatGPT itself, rather than operating NextSlide as a separate product. This mirrors OpenAI's broader acquisition pattern, which has focused on small, specialized teams rather than large companies. The company has spent heavily in this space—notably acquiring Statsig for $1.1 billion—while also buying Sky, Roi, Context.ai, Crossing Minds, and Ona (the German startup formerly known as Gitpod, now working on Codex). The pattern suggests OpenAI is building out ChatGPT's capabilities layer by layer, bringing in teams and their expertise where it sees high strategic value.