Is Multi Still Active in 2026? (Status Explained)

Quick Answer

Multi is currently acquired and merged into another company. The Mac video collaboration tool was officially shut down on July 24, 2024, following its acquisition by OpenAI. The entire Multi team has since joined OpenAI to focus on improving collaboration features within ChatGPT.

Current Status of Multi

For those wondering, "is Multi still active" the answer is a definitive no. Multi is no longer an independent product and was discontinued in July 2024. The company's website, multi.app, now redirects to OpenAI, signaling the complete integration of the team and technology into the larger AI organization. You can see the live status page at [/tools/multi-app].

What Happened to Multi

Multi, originally known as Remotion, launched on April 1, 2022, introducing a novel approach to remote team collaboration. The tool offered macOS users a way to co-edit screens with rich AI-assisted features, quickly carving out a niche in the competitive productivity software market.

However, the trajectory of Multi took a significant turn in June 2024. On June 24, 2024, OpenAI announced the acquihire of the Multi team. This strategic move brought the talent behind Multi's innovative collaboration features into the fold of one of the world's leading AI research and deployment companies. The official blog post regarding the acquisition stated the team would be working on collaboration in ChatGPT.

Following this announcement, the Multi product experienced a rapid shutdown. By July 24, 2024, Multi was officially closed down, with users receiving an end-of-life notice. This marked the end of Multi as a standalone collaboration tool, transitioning its capabilities and team to a new chapter within OpenAI.

Why It Was Acquired

OpenAI announced the Multi acquihire on June 24, 2024, and subsequently the product was shut down on July 24, 2024, with a public end-of-life notice. The primary reason for the acquisition was to integrate Multi's expertise in collaborative tools and AI-assisted features directly into OpenAI's flagship products, particularly ChatGPT. This move was intended to enhance the collaborative functionalities offered by OpenAI, leveraging Multi's proven track record in creating seamless remote interaction experiences.

Best Alternatives to Multi

While Multi is no longer available, several powerful tools offer robust collaboration and AI-powered functionalities that can serve as excellent alternatives for teams seeking similar capabilities. Given Multi's focus on AI-assisted collaboration, considering AI chatbots and development platforms makes sense.

Here are some top alternatives:

• ChatGPT: As the platform Multi's team integrated into, ChatGPT offers advanced conversational AI for various tasks, including brainstorming, content generation, and code assistance, which can be invaluable in collaborative workflows.
• Claude: Another leading AI chatbot, Claude provides sophisticated natural language processing for complex problem-solving, documentation, and creative writing, supporting diverse team collaboration needs.
• OpenAI API: For developers and teams looking to build custom AI-powered collaboration tools or integrate AI into existing systems, the OpenAI API offers access to OpenAI's powerful models, enabling tailored solutions.

These alternatives represent some of the best options available for teams seeking to fill the gap left by the Multi shutdown, providing advanced AI capabilities that can enhance productivity and communication in various professional settings.