OpenAI has purchased Glass Imaging, a smartphone camera technology company, for over $300 million, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Founded in 2019 and based in Los Altos, California, Glass Imaging had previously raised around $30 million from investors. The company was established by former Apple engineers Ziv Attar and Tom Bishop, who led the development of Apple’s Portrait Mode. Glass Imaging uses neural networks to improve image quality by learning the characteristics of individual smartphone camera systems, enhancing photos at the moment they are captured rather than through post-processing. This acquisition aligns with OpenAI’s rumored plans to develop its own hardware products, including smartphones and AI companion devices. OpenAI has not yet commented on the deal. The move follows OpenAI’s previous hardware-related acquisition in 2025, when it bought the startup io, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Apple designer Jony Ive, for $6.5 billion.
OpenAI Acquires Smartphone Camera Startup Glass Imaging for Over $300 Million
OpenAI has acquired Glass Imaging, a startup specializing in AI-enhanced smartphone camera technology, in a deal valued at more than $300 million. The acquisition highlights OpenAI's expanding interest in hardware and AI integration.
September 14, 2026•1 min read•Source: techcrunch.com•By Amanda Silberling

This article was generated from reporting by techcrunch.com.
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