Grammarly Acquires Superhuman to Expand into AI-Powered Productivity Tools
Grammarly is moving beyond grammar checking as it acquires email startup Superhuman. The deal signals a strategic shift toward building a broader AI-powered productivity suite. Executives from both companies confirmed the acquisition, though they did not disclose the financial terms. The move marks a significant expansion of Grammarly’s ambitions in the digital productivity space.
Grammarly’s Strategic Shift Toward AI Productivity
Grammarly has grown far beyond its original purpose as a writing assistant. The San Francisco-based company now serves over 40 million daily users and earns more than $700 million annually. After raising $1 billion in funding led by General Catalyst, Grammarly is now investing heavily in a new suite of AI tools for the workplace.
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According to company leaders, the acquisition of Superhuman is a key part of this effort. Grammarly is working on a rebrand that reflects its pivot into the broader productivity market. The company intends to merge generative AI capabilities with productivity features, moving its focus from simple corrections to helping users manage their entire digital communication flow.
Why Superhuman Fits Grammarly’s Vision
Superhuman is widely recognized for its high-speed, premium email experience. The San Francisco-based startup raised over $110 million in funding, led by IVP and Andreessen Horowitz. It built a strong brand, partly through an exclusive onboarding process and a long waitlist for early users.
Although more accessible today, Superhuman retains its premium positioning. The last known valuation in 2021 placed the company at $825 million. Currently, Superhuman generates around $35 million in annual revenue. Over the past year, the platform has focused on incorporating AI into its product.
Company data showed users are now sending and responding to 72% more emails per hour. Additionally, the use of AI-generated email responses has increased fivefold. These metrics suggest that Superhuman is aligned with Grammarly’s goal to build smarter workplace tools.
A Critical Channel in the Productivity Ecosystem
Grammarly executives emphasized the importance of email in modern work. CEO Shashir Mehrotra stated that professionals spend nearly three hours daily in their inboxes. He described email as the world’s most widely used communication platform and called Superhuman “the obvious leading innovator in the space.”
Grammarly’s plan is to embed its AI agents into Superhuman’s user interface. This integration aims to move beyond message composition and toward helping users act on and understand information from their digital communications. The tools will help streamline workflows by reducing time spent writing or searching for content.
Competing with Industry Giants
The acquisition highlights the growing competition in AI-enhanced productivity software. Tech leaders like Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce have already invested heavily in this area. These companies continue to embed AI across their suites of tools, including email platforms.
Grammarly now joins this group, positioning itself to offer a full productivity experience powered by AI. According to the companies, this deal strengthens Grammarly’s position in the enterprise market by combining its AI core with Superhuman’s design approach. The goal is to create a unified workspace centered around efficient communication.
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Vision for the Future of Work
Superhuman founder Rahul Vohra and Grammarly CEO Mehrotra described a shared vision for the future of work. They foresee a digital environment where users interact with intelligent agents across documents, email, and workflows. This system would reduce repetitive tasks and speed up information access.
The companies plan to develop tools that operate across platforms, providing assistance beyond writing and editing. Instead, the focus will be on productivity as a whole—enabling users to manage tasks, extract insights, and automate responses from a single interface.
Integrating Teams and Technology
The companies confirmed that integration efforts are already underway. Though specific product roadmaps remain undisclosed, both teams are working closely on combining their technologies. The shared goal is to create a seamless user experience for professionals across industries.
By merging Superhuman’s email capabilities with Grammarly’s language and AI infrastructure, the resulting product could appeal to businesses looking for smarter communication tools. As AI continues to influence workplace software, the collaboration between the two firms could set new standards for efficiency.
Scaling in a Crowded AI Email Market
The email sector is seeing rapid innovation, with both startups and large tech companies vying for market share. Many smaller firms focus on user experience or niche features to differentiate themselves. Meanwhile, established players are embedding AI directly into their existing ecosystems.
The acquisition gives Superhuman new resources to scale its product and stay competitive in this fast-changing landscape. Grammarly’s backing may allow the email platform to expand its user base and enhance its features without compromising speed or quality.
What the Acquisition Means for Users
While neither company shared detailed post-acquisition plans, the collaboration hints at major changes ahead for users. Grammarly’s generative AI will likely extend Superhuman’s current functionality, introducing deeper automation, summarization, and action-based tools.
Users can expect a shift toward smarter inbox management, where AI can understand intent, summarize threads, and suggest appropriate next steps. This marks a move away from traditional writing support and toward a broader workplace assistant.
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A Broader Trend in Work Technology
Grammarly’s acquisition of Superhuman reflects a larger trend in digital productivity tools. Companies are investing in AI not only to improve existing software but also to redefine how people work. Whether in writing, communication, or workflow, AI-driven tools are becoming central to enterprise strategy.
The shift comes as digital professionals face growing volumes of information and rising expectations for responsiveness. Tools that help manage this overload efficiently will likely dominate future workplace platforms.
FAQs
Why did Grammarly acquire Superhuman?
Grammarly acquired Superhuman to expand beyond grammar correction and build a full AI-powered productivity suite, starting with email.
What does Superhuman bring to Grammarly’s platform?
Superhuman offers a premium, fast email experience and recent AI enhancements that align with Grammarly’s vision for smarter workplace tools.
How will Grammarly integrate its AI into Superhuman?
Grammarly plans to embed its generative AI agents into Superhuman’s interface, enabling users to better understand, manage, and act on digital communications.
Will the Superhuman brand continue to operate independently?
While full product plans are undisclosed, both companies confirmed that integration is underway, suggesting close collaboration rather than separate operations.
How does this move position Grammarly in the AI productivity market?
The acquisition strengthens Grammarly’s position against tech giants like Google and Microsoft, as it seeks to compete in the broader AI-driven productivity software space.