OpenAI Backs Sam Altman’s Brain-Computer Startup Merge Labs
▼ Summary
– OpenAI has invested in CEO Sam Altman’s brain-computer interface startup Merge Labs, leading its $250 million seed round at an $850 million valuation.
– Merge Labs aims to develop non-invasive technology using molecules, like ultrasound, to interface with neurons and enhance human capabilities alongside AI.
– This investment deepens Altman’s competition with Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which uses invasive surgical implants for its brain-computer interfaces.
– OpenAI views BCIs as a frontier for human-AI interaction and will collaborate with Merge Labs on scientific models to accelerate progress.
– The deal is circular, as a successful Merge Labs could drive more users to OpenAI, increasing the value of a startup Altman owns using resources from the company he runs.
The recent investment by OpenAI into Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface startup founded by its own CEO Sam Altman, marks a significant step toward a future where human cognition and artificial intelligence converge. This strategic move places OpenAI at the forefront of a competitive field, directly challenging other ventures like Elon Musk’s Neuralink. The undisclosed seed round, reportedly totaling $250 million at an $850 million valuation, saw OpenAI contributing the largest single investment. This financial backing underscores a shared vision for developing non-invasive neural technology that could fundamentally alter human capability.
Merge Labs emerged from stealth mode with an ambitious goal: to bridge biological and artificial intelligence. The company proposes a radical departure from existing methods. Instead of relying on surgically implanted electrodes, its research focuses on creating entirely new technologies that connect with neurons using molecules, potentially employing modalities like ultrasound to transmit and receive information. The stated mission is to restore lost abilities, support healthier brain states, and deepen human connection, ultimately expanding what people can imagine and create alongside advanced AI.
This venture intensifies the existing rivalry between Sam Altman and Elon Musk in the neurotechnology arena. Musk’s Neuralink has pioneered implantable chips, requiring invasive surgery, to help individuals with paralysis control devices mentally. In contrast, Merge Labs is pursuing a non-invasive path, which could broaden accessibility and application. The philosophical divide is notable; while Neuralink has emphasized medical restoration, Merge Labs articulates a broader Silicon Valley ambition to enhance human abilities and create a seamless interface with AI, moving beyond therapeutic use into the realm of cognitive augmentation.
OpenAI’s involvement is framed as a logical extension of its mission. In a blog post, the company described brain-computer interfaces as a critical new frontier for human-computer interaction. The partnership will involve collaboration on scientific foundation models and frontier tools, with AI poised to accelerate research in bioengineering and neuroscience. Furthermore, AI operating systems are expected to be crucial for interpreting neural intent and adapting to individual users, making the interfaces more effective. This synergy suggests Merge Labs’ technology could eventually serve as a primary conduit for interacting with OpenAI’s software, creating a potentially self-reinforcing ecosystem.
The corporate structure reveals a network of interconnected interests. Merge Labs’ co-founders include executives from Tools for Humanity, another Altman-backed company, as well as founders from the neural tech company Forest Neurotech and a Caltech researcher. Notably, these individuals plan to maintain their existing roles, indicating a collaborative rather than exclusive arrangement. This investment follows a pattern for the OpenAI Startup Fund, which has previously backed other Altman-connected companies like Rain AI and Helion Energy, blending commercial agreements with personal ventures.
Altman’s long-standing fascination with the concept of a “Merge” between humans and machines provides the ideological backbone for this startup. He has publicly speculated for years that such a fusion represents humanity’s best strategy for coexisting with a potential superintelligent AI, viewing it as preferable to becoming an evolutionary relic. His vision encompasses various forms, from direct brain interfaces to profound relationships with AI entities. Merge Labs appears to be the tangible execution of this philosophical blueprint, aiming to design the next phase of human evolution through technology.
As this new company begins its work, the broader implications for ethics, privacy, and the nature of human experience will undoubtedly come into sharper focus. The development of non-invasive BCIs could democratize access to cognitive enhancement but also raises profound questions about identity and autonomy. With OpenAI’s resources and Altman’s direction, Merge Labs is positioned to be a major player in shaping that uncertain future.
(Source: TechCrunch)
