OpenAI buys smartphone camera maker Glass Imaging for $300M

s0ss

The bubble expands to meet the needs of the expanding bubble.

HelloUsername

Source posted earlier: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49701716

tantalor

That's an odd choice. I would have thought camera modules are commodity parts (have been for a long time) and there's not much margin there. Probably they are buying the staff, not the technology.

fidotron

Both Apple and Google have dropped the ball enough with the state of recent releases that some iPhone-equivalent-disruption product from the AI industry is becoming conceivable, though I would be surprised if it turns out not to be running Android in some form. Putting a lot of effort into pushing complexity into software to reduce manufacturing complexity is precisely the sort of thing you worry about when you're getting serious about building consumer products.

maz1b

OpenAI really going after ex Apple people who start new companies or startups, eh? First Ive and now the duo behind Portrait mode. Will be interesting to see how the legal battle plays out as well.

classified

So they want to put their spying AI directly into the camera workflow, where you can't see it and can't turn it off. They will have infinite training data and also sell access to the alphabet agencies. The next level of total surveillance.

devindotcom

what an interesting acquisition. I was the one who wrote them up originally for TC: https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/22/glass-rethinks-the-smartph... they had a really cool optical approach that I kind of felt immediately was doomed in the consumer market but would likely find a cool, valuable niche. The unique distortion patterns and front element I felt probably ruled out cinema but beyond that I had no idea. looks like they pivoted at some point but their expertise in lens accommodation does seem like it could be helpful.

tintor

OpenAI should acquire Flock </s>

tiahura

Anyone want to bet that Apple will be the only one making a profit off the OpenAI Infringerator? À la android fat.

wannabe44

At least something they don't claim to automate with AI. Apparently Anthropic acquired stainless for $300M instead of vibing it.

KevinMS

They are just feeling around in the dark looking for the killer app to save their business.

rasz

>smartphone camera maker - doesnt make ANY cameras - its tech (AI slop over taken picture) is used by one lonely Chinese vendor

kimseungyong

AI operates on the device. AI model vendors will likely be torn between developing their own hardware to avoid hardware dependency or moving forward together. Quietly, Apple and Google will take advantage of this trend.