GoPro shares surge as AI hardware company Starman Optical plans $285M acquisition

GoPro, the company that once defined an entire category of action cameras before smartphones ate its lunch, just found itself a lifeline from the most unexpected corner of tech: AI data center hardware. Starman Optical, a manufacturer of optical transceivers used in AI data centers, announced a merger agreement with GoPro on September 1, 2026. The deal values GoPro’s outstanding shares at $285 million in cash, or roughly $1.14 per share. That price represents a 30% premium over the stock’s previous close, and the market responded by sending shares up as much as 80% in pre-market trading before settling around 40-50% higher by the close. From action cameras to AI infrastructure Under the terms of the agreement, Starman Optical will acquire a 90% stake in GoPro while existing shareholders retain approximately 10% equity in the combined public entity. The merged company is expected to remain listed on Nasdaq, with the transaction anticipated to close by year-end pending regulatory approvals. The strategic logic centers on GoPro’s intellectual property rather than its consumer hardware business. The company holds more than 2,500 patents in optics and imaging, a portfolio that turns out...