Midjourney Acquires Astrology App Co-Star in Strategic AI Move
AI image-generation startup Midjourney has acquired personalized astrology app Co-Star, with founder Banu Guler joining as chief design officer to lead the company's first mobile apps.
What Happened
On July 24, 2026, AI startup Midjourney announced it had acquired Co-Star, a popular personalized astrology application. The deal reportedly closed earlier in spring 2026 before the public announcement on Thursday.
Midjourney, best known for its AI image generation capabilities accessible through Discord and web platforms, will integrate Co-Star's team into its operations. Banu Guler, founder of Co-Star, will continue to run the astrology app while also taking on a new role as Midjourney's chief design officer. David Holz remains Midjourney's founder throughout this transition.
The acquisition marks Midjourney's first major step beyond Discord and web-based interfaces into dedicated mobile applications. Guler and her team at Co-Star will help build Midjourney's inaugural apps, including one specifically designed for image generation.
Why It Matters
This acquisition signals a pivotal expansion phase for Midjourney. The company has built its reputation on delivering high-quality AI-generated imagery through Discord servers and web interfaces, but moving into dedicated mobile applications represents a significant strategic shift toward broader consumer accessibility.
The decision to retain Co-Star's founder in charge of her original app while bringing her onto the executive team as chief design officer suggests Midjourney values Guler's product expertise and user experience sensibilities. This is particularly noteworthy given that astrology apps like Co-Star have cultivated highly engaged, loyal user bases through personalized content delivery—a capability that could translate well to image-generation experiences.
The timing also matters: with AI competition intensifying across generative media categories, Midjourney appears to be accelerating its product diversification efforts. Partnering with a team that has demonstrated success in building engaging mobile experiences positions the company to capture new user segments beyond its current Discord-centric audience.
What to Watch
Industry observers should monitor several key developments following this acquisition:
App Launch Timeline: The most immediate question is when Midjourney's first dedicated apps will launch, particularly the image-generation app that Guler's team will lead development on. Given Co-Star's existing mobile infrastructure and user base, integration could begin sooner rather than later.
Product Integration Strategy: How Midjourney balances maintaining Co-Star's standalone identity while leveraging its team for broader product development will reveal much about the company's acquisition philosophy. Will Co-Star remain a separate app, or eventually merge features with Midjourney's core offerings?
Design Leadership Impact: Guler's dual role as chief design officer and Co-Star operator suggests design excellence is becoming a central priority at Midjourney. This could signal upcoming product refinements across the company's entire portfolio.
Competitive Response: Other AI companies may respond to this move with their own app-focused strategies or acquisitions, potentially reshaping the mobile AI landscape in coming months.
Source snapshot
Sources
- https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/970894/midjourney-co-star-acquisition
- Bloomberg (original reporting on acquisition)