An AI lab known for image generation just built a design team through an unusual route. Midjourney has completed its first corporate purchase, acquiring the astrology app Co-Star in a deal that closed earlier this year with undisclosed terms. The lab’s founder framed the move as a talent investment rather than a product acquisition.
Co-Star founder Banu Guler steps into a dual role, running the app she built while also serving as Midjourney’s chief design officer. Her team will shape the user experience across a growing lineup of products, starting with a standalone image-generation application that Midjourney plans to ship outside its current Discord-based platform.
The astrology app blends multiple data sources – NASA planetary positions, astrologer-written content, and machine learning – to create personalized daily readings and compatibility profiles. Its minimalist interface and engaged user base made it an attractive design case study for Midjourney’s expansion plans.
The acquisition reflects a broader push beyond the single-product model that defined Midjourney’s early years. The company has moved into experimental medical imaging and is laying the groundwork for a multi-application strategy powered by its core generative AI technology.
