OpenAI has acquired the AI personal finance startup Hiro, according to an announcement by Hiro founder Ethan Bloch on Monday confirmed by OpenAI.
The deal appears to be an acquihire, as Hiro will shut down its operations on April 20 and delete all user data from its servers by May 13. While the financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, Bloch confirmed that Hiro employees will join the OpenAI team.
LinkedIn records suggest the move brings approximately 10 people into OpenAI’s fold. Hiro was backed by prominent fintech venture capital firms, including Ribbit, General Catalyst, and Restive.
Specialized financial modeling
Founded in 2023, Hiro launched its consumer-facing AI tool roughly five months ago. The platform allowed users to input financial data, such as salaries, debts, and monthly expenses, to run various 'what-if' economic scenarios.
Unlike general-purpose large language models, Hiro was specifically trained to handle complex financial mathematics. In a product demo, Bloch noted that the app included an option for users to verify the accuracy of the math performed by the model.
This acquisition marks another strategic move for OpenAI as it expands its utility for enterprise and professional users. The company has previously marketed ChatGPT as a specialized tool for business finance teams.
Bloch brings significant fintech experience to OpenAI. He previously founded the neobank Digit, which was acquired by Oportun in 2021 for more than $200 million. His move suggests OpenAI is actively recruiting talent capable of refining the precision of AI-driven financial planning.
