Flush With Cash From OpenAI, Opal Is Making an AI-Powered Audio Gadget

Opal Camera, a San Francisco startup known for design-focused webcams, is rebranding to Opal Electronics and expanding into a broader AI-driven product lineup. The company secured a $40 million Series B led by OpenAI, with other investors including Samsung, Peter Thiel, Seven Seven Six, and Marques Brownlee. OpenAI’s involvement helped fuel the transition, and the round values Opal at about $275 million. The company plans an AI-powered audio product launching within three to four months, tested by OpenAI personnel and executives from xAI, Thinking Machines, and Anthropic. A late-2026 to early-2027 launch window is anticipated for this new hardware endeavor.