OpenAI buys smartphone camera maker Glass Imaging for $300 million, report says

In Brief Posted: 1:44 PM PDT · September 14, 2026 Image Credits: YIN WENJIE / Getty Images Amanda Silberling OpenAI buys smartphone camera maker Glass Imaging for $300 million, report says OpenAI has bought smartphone camera maker Glass Imaging in a deal worth over $300 million, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal . The company, founded in 2019 and based in Los Altos, California, had previously raised about $30 million in funding from investors. Glass Imaging was founded by Ziv Attar and Tom Bishop, a pair of former Apple engineers who previously led the team that developed Apple’s Portrait Mode. This background directly informs the work they now do at Glass Imaging, where they use AI to overcome the physical size constraints of smartphone cameras. Rather than using AI to edit a photo after it’s been taken, Glass Imaging uses neural networks to learn about individual camera systems — like the different cameras on various smartphone models — to yield better images from the moment the shutter clicks. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The ChatGPT maker is rumored to be working on its own hardware, like smartphones , earbuds , and AI companion devices . In 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and famed Apple designer Jony Ive revealed that they had been working together on a device startup called io, when OpenAI bought Ive’s company for $6.5 billion. Topics AI , Hardware , In Brief , Mergers and Acquisitions , OpenAI October 13 – 15 San Francisco Last day to book an exhibit table is September 18. Don’t miss out on high-impact leads, investor access, and a brand spotlight in Disrupt’s Expo Hall. BOOK NOW Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. StrictlyVC Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. No newsletters selected. Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . Related TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Only at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: What happens when OpenAI ships your roadmap? TechCrunch Events 6 hours ago AI What’s behind the AI industry’s latest warnings of doom? Anthony Ha 1 day ago AI Obama urges Democrats to have a ‘clear plan’ for AI safeguards Anthony Ha 1 day ago Latest in AI In Brief OpenAI buys smartphone camera maker Glass Imaging for $300 million, report says Amanda Silberling 20 minutes ago AI With iOS 27, I’m actually using Siri again Ivan Mehta 4 hours ago Apps Fashion app Daydream uses Apple Intelligence to help you shop the outfits in your camera roll Lauren Forristal 4 hours ago