OpenAI has acquired Glass Imaging, a startup specializing in AI-powered smartphone camera technology, for more than $300 million. Founded in 2019 by former Apple engineers Ziv Attar and Tom Bishop, the startup previously raised $30 million and held a valuation of roughly $100 million in its last funding round.
Glass Imaging developed GlassAI, software that uses neural networks to correct image quality issues caused by the physical limitations of smartphone sensors. This technology is already integrated into smartphones from the Chinese manufacturer Honor. OpenAI intends to utilize this expertise to enhance the visual capabilities of its future AI-driven hardware.
The company is currently developing several hardware products, including a smart speaker, smart glasses, and a smart lamp, with a team of over 200 employees. The first device, a speaker codenamed Sweetpea, is scheduled for announcement in the second half of 2026. OpenAI is also exploring the development of an AI-focused smartphone.
This acquisition follows a series of strategic investments by OpenAI, including the $6.5 billion purchase of Jony Ive’s startup io and the $1.1 billion acquisition of the experimentation platform Statsig. These moves reflect a strategy of vertical integration, allowing the company to own its model, design, tooling, and imaging technology.
