OpenAI Acquires Smartphone Camera AI Startup Glass Imaging in $300M Deal
OpenAI has secretly acquired smartphone camera AI startup Glass Imaging in a deal valued at over $300 million. Founded by former Apple engineers, the company develops neural technology to elevate mobile photography to DSLR quality.
OpenAI has secretly acquired Glass Imaging, a startup developing AI-powered camera technology for smartphones, in a deal valuing the company at over $300 million. Founded in 2019 by former Apple engineers Ziv Attar and Tom Bishop, Glass Imaging specializes in neural network algorithms designed to bridge the gap between smartphone photography and DSLR image quality.
The Apple Connection and Jony Ive
Attar and Bishop previously worked on core camera technologies at Apple, including the iPhone's Portrait mode. According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, the transaction marks a significant valuation jump from the $100 million-plus valuation recorded during last year's funding round.
"Smartphone camera improvements have become incremental, hitting a technological glass ceiling," the founders noted in a 2022 interview.
Strategic Hardware Ambitions
It remains unclear how OpenAI plans to integrate the technology. However, the company is currently collaborating with former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive on an undisclosed hardware device. Ive joined OpenAI in 2025 following the acquisition of his startup io Products for $6.5 billion.
-
Acquisition Target: Glass Imaging (valuation over $300 million)
-
Founders: Ziv Attar and Tom Bishop (ex-Apple)
-
Core Tech: AI-driven image processing mimicking DSLR capabilities
The acquisition aligns with a broader series of corporate purchases by OpenAI ahead of a widely anticipated initial public offering scheduled for next year.
