Opal Electronics rebrands and expands into AI hardware after raising $40 million Series B from OpenAI

Opal Camera is rebranding to Opal Electronics and expanding beyond webcams into a broad range of consumer devices, some AI-focused, with the goal to emulate Sony Electronics as a wide-ranging consumer gadget brand. The transition was funded by a $40 million Series B from OpenAI, with the deal closed in the first quarter of 2025. Opal is now valued at around $275 million.

Opal is developing an AI-powered audio product that will launch in the next three to four months and is currently being tested by Sam Altman, researchers at OpenAI, and executives at xAI, Thinking Machines, and Anthropic. The audio product will launch in partnership with a specific AI lab, and Opal is in talks with OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI to allow users to switch between models.

OpenAI is now the largest shareholder in Opal but does not have rights to Opal's intellectual property or designs, allowing Opal to work with any AI lab and pursue conversations with third parties for future products. Opal plans to release two other products in the next 12 months.