GoPro [1]plans to expand into AI infrastructure through a $285 million merger with optical-photonics company Starman Optical, whose transceivers will give the action-camera maker a foothold in the fast-growing data center market. GoPro also plans to push into defense, robotics, aerospace, and government markets while continuing its existing camera business. Engadget reports:

> Starman's optical transceivers are expected to fall under its umbrella, "extending the Company's reach into the large and rapidly growing market for AI infrastructure in optical transceivers," according to a press release. GoPro is also planning a push into the defense, government, robotics and aerospace sectors, bolstered by the combined company's IP, optics and imaging capabilities.

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> [...] As [2]Reuters notes , GoPro briefly reached a valuation of $4 billion on its first day as a publicly traded company in 2014. Its stock has struggled in recent years, but the share price received a boost on Monday when it was revealed that YouTuber and filmmaker Markiplier (Mark Fischbach) had become GoPro's largest individual shareholder after acquiring an 8.5 percent stake.

The move follows a similar pivot made by the struggling shoe retailer Allbirds in April when it [3]announced a pivot to AI compute infrastructure, sending the stock soaring more than 700%.



[1] https://www.engadget.com/2248633/gopro-says-its-moving-into-ai-data-centers-as-part-of-a-dollar285-million-merger/

[2] https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/gopro-be-acquired-by-starman-optical-285-million-deal-2026-09-01/

[3] https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/04/15/1646259/struggling-shoe-retailer-allbirds-pivots-to-ai-stock-explodes-more-than-700