GoPro Bought for $285M, Chases AI Data Centers

"We expect this merger to enable GoPro to grow across consumer, commercial and defense markets as a leading American imaging and optical solutions company, addressing important areas of national security related to cameras, optics and AI infrastructure," Woodman said in a statement.

Charles Tebele, CEO of parent company Starman Holdings, framed it as a reshoring play: "Advanced optics and imaging are essential to AI, national security, and the broader economy, yet much of the critical hardware supporting these technologies continues to be manufactured overseas." He said the combined company intends "to bring production of these critical components back to the United States."

Coverage agrees on the terms but splits on the buyer. TechCrunch noted that Starman Optical "doesn't have a significant track record to judge its performance" and was incorporated in Delaware only the day before the announcement. Engadget put GoPro in the same category as shoemaker Allbirds — another consumer brand making an unexpected turn into AI infrastructure.