AI image generation company Midjourney has acquired Co-Star, one of the world’s most popular astrology apps, in a move that signals the company’s ambitions to expand beyond image generation into consumer-focused AI experiences. As part of the acquisition, Co-Star founder Banu Guler will join Midjourney as its Chief Design Officer (CDO), bringing her expertise in product design, consumer engagement, and AI-powered personalization. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal marks Midjourney’s first known acquisition since the company emerged as one of the leading players in generative AI.
The acquisition comes as Midjourney broadens its product roadmap beyond AI-generated images into interactive consumer applications, with founder David Holz previously outlining plans to develop AI-powered world simulations, video generation, and real-time interactive experiences. Bringing Guler and the Co-Star team into the company is expected to strengthen Midjourney’s design capabilities as it pursues more immersive AI products.
Midjourney Acquires Consumer App Co-Star
Co-Star has built one of the largest consumer audiences in the astrology app market by combining artificial intelligence with personalized astrology content.
Founded in 2017, the app is known for:
- Personalized astrological readings.
- AI-generated daily insights.
- Social features that compare birth charts between users.
- A distinctive minimalist design language.
- Millions of registered users worldwide.
Rather than operating as a traditional horoscope application, Co-Star built its brand around highly personalized recommendations and strong user engagement, making it one of the best-known subscription-based astrology platforms.
Deal Snapshot
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Acquirer | Midjourney |
| Target | Co-Star |
| Founder Joining Midjourney | Banu Guler |
| New Role | Chief Design Officer |
| Financial Terms | Not disclosed |
Founder Banu Guler to Lead Design
As part of the acquisition, Banu Guler will become Midjourney’s Chief Design Officer.
Her responsibilities are expected to include:
- Leading product design strategy.
- Improving user experience across Midjourney’s products.
- Expanding consumer-facing AI applications.
- Building more intuitive AI interfaces.
- Helping shape future AI experiences beyond image generation.
Guler is widely recognized for building Co-Star into one of the most distinctive consumer AI applications, combining strong visual design with highly personalized recommendations and social engagement.
Why Midjourney Is Buying Co-Star
Although Midjourney is best known for AI image generation, the company has repeatedly stated that its long-term vision extends beyond creating images.
The acquisition could help Midjourney accelerate development in areas such as:
- AI-powered consumer products.
- Personalized digital assistants.
- Interactive virtual experiences.
- AI-generated storytelling.
- Next-generation creative tools.
Rather than acquiring Co-Star primarily for its astrology technology, industry observers view the deal as a strategic acquisition of consumer product expertise, design talent, and engagement capabilities.
Strategic Benefits
| Area | Potential Benefit |
|---|---|
| Product Design | Stronger consumer-focused user experience |
| AI Applications | Expansion beyond image generation |
| Leadership | Experienced consumer product executive joins management |
| User Engagement | Insights from one of the most successful subscription consumer apps |
Midjourney Expands Beyond Image Generation
Since launching its AI image generator, Midjourney has become one of the most widely used independent generative AI platforms.
The company has recently expanded into:
- AI video generation.
- Interactive world simulation research.
- Real-time AI experiences.
- New creative workflows for artists and designers.
Adding an experienced consumer product leader reflects the company’s transition from a single-product AI startup into a broader AI platform with ambitions across multiple consumer categories.
Growing Competition in Consumer AI
The acquisition comes amid intensifying competition across consumer AI.
Companies including:
- OpenAI.
- Google.
- Anthropic.
- Meta.
- xAI.
are investing heavily in AI assistants, multimodal models, creative tools, and personalized digital experiences.
For Midjourney, strengthening its product design capabilities could become an important competitive advantage as AI companies increasingly compete on user experience rather than model performance alone.
Looking Ahead
Midjourney’s acquisition of Co-Star represents more than a traditional technology acquisition—it highlights the growing importance of product design and consumer engagement in the next phase of artificial intelligence. By bringing Co-Star founder Banu Guler onboard as Chief Design Officer, Midjourney gains leadership with experience in building a highly engaging, subscription-based consumer application powered by AI-driven personalization.
Looking ahead, the acquisition is likely to support Midjourney’s broader vision of evolving beyond AI image generation into interactive, multimodal consumer experiences. As competition among AI companies increasingly shifts toward usability, creativity, and personalized experiences, investments in product design and consumer-facing innovation may become as strategically important as advances in AI model performance.
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