OpenAI Invests in Sam Altman's Brain-Computer Interface Startup
OpenAI has made a strategic investment in Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface startup backed by its own CEO Sam Altman. The company confirmed the move but did not reveal the exact financial details of the seed round investment.
OpenAI expressed strong enthusiasm for the collaboration. The company stated it aims to help turn an ambitious idea into reality and eventually create products that prove genuinely useful for people everywhere.
Major Funding Round and High Valuation
Reports from TechCrunch indicate this was a significant funding event. Merge Labs successfully raised $250 million in its seed round, achieving a valuation of $850 million. OpenAI emerged as one of the largest backers in this substantial financial push.
Other notable investors also joined the round. Private investment firm Bain Capital and video game developer Gabe Newell were among the key supporters backing Merge Labs' vision.
What is Merge Labs and Its Mission?
Merge Labs describes itself as a dedicated research laboratory. Its long-term mission is ambitious: to bridge the gap between biological and artificial intelligence. The ultimate goal is to maximize human ability, agency, and overall experience.
The company's founding team includes Mikhail Shapiro, Tyson Aflalo, and Sumner Norman. Entrepreneurs Alex Blania, Sandro Herbig, and Sam Altman have also joined the effort in a personal capacity, lending their expertise and vision.
A Different Approach to Brain-Computer Interfaces
Merge Labs is pursuing its goal by developing fundamentally new approaches to BCIs. The company focuses on interfaces that interact with the brain at high bandwidth and integrate seamlessly with advanced artificial intelligence. A core principle is ensuring these technologies are ultimately safe and accessible for anyone to use.
The startup measures success by creating real products that people love. Initial applications will target helping patients recovering from injury or managing disease. Later, the technology aims to more broadly advance human capability for a wider audience.
Rivalry with Neuralink and a Non-Invasive Path
This development is likely to intensify the existing rivalry between tech visionaries. Elon Musk's startup Neuralink also develops computer interface chips. These devices allow individuals with paralysis to control computers, phones, and robotic arms using their thoughts.
However, Merge Labs is charting a different technological course. Unlike Neuralink, which requires surgical implantation of a coin-sized chip into the brain, Merge Labs is pioneering more non-invasive methods. The company is exploring techniques like ultrasound to avoid the need for physical implants altogether.
Merge Labs explains it is developing entirely new technologies. The approach involves connecting neurons using molecules instead of traditional electrodes to make safe, accessible BCIs a reality.
The company shared its vision in a blog post, stating: "We envision future BCIs that are equal parts biology, device, and AI in a form factor that we ourselves want to use and is broadly accessible. Fully realizing this vision demands that we think in decades rather than years, tackle very hard problems across disciplines, and be proactive in ensuring that the resulting technology is safe, privacy preserving, accessible, and beneficial to users and society."
