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OpenAI Invests in Sam Altman's Brain‑Computer Interface Startup Merge Labs

OpenAI Invests in Sam Altman's Brain‑Computer Interface Startup Merge Labs
OpenAI has made the largest single investment in Merge Labs, the brain‑computer interface startup founded by Sam Altman and other tech leaders. The seed round, valued at $850 million, aims to develop non‑invasive technologies that connect to neurons using molecules and ultrasound. OpenAI’s involvement includes collaborating on scientific foundation models and AI tools to accelerate research. The move positions Merge Labs alongside other high‑profile BCI efforts such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink, while highlighting OpenAI’s strategy of investing in frontier technologies that could expand human interaction with artificial intelligence. Read more →

OpenAI Invests in Sam Altman's New Brain‑Tech Startup Merge Labs

OpenAI Invests in Sam Altman's New Brain‑Tech Startup Merge Labs
OpenAI announced a strategic investment in Merge Labs, a neurotechnology startup co‑founded by Sam Altman. The company aims to develop non‑invasive brain‑computer interfaces that use ultrasound to read and modulate neural activity. Backed by OpenAI and other investors, Merge Labs plans to combine AI, ultrasound technology, and novel molecular approaches to create accessible, high‑bandwidth interfaces without implanting hardware into brain tissue. The partnership signals OpenAI’s expanding focus on frontier hardware and AI tools that could accelerate progress in brain‑machine communication. Read more →

Merge Labs Spins Out of Forest Neurotech to Develop Ultrasound Brain-Computer Interface

Merge Labs Spins Out of Forest Neurotech to Develop Ultrasound Brain-Computer Interface
Merge Labs, a brain‑computer interface startup co‑founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is being spun out of the nonprofit Forest Neurotech. The new venture will focus on using ultrasound to read brain activity, a technique that differs from the electrical‑based approaches of rivals like Neuralink. Forest Neurotech’s leadership—including CEO Sumner Norman and chief scientific officer Tyson Aflalo—are among the co‑founders, along with Altman and other tech entrepreneurs. The company aims to create a non‑invasive, whole‑brain interface that could enable advanced neurological treatments and augmentation capabilities. Read more →

Neuralink User Hacks Brain-Computer Interface with Webcam to Boost Daily Life

Neuralink User Hacks Brain-Computer Interface with Webcam to Boost Daily Life
Brad Smith, an ALS patient and the third Neuralink recipient, replaced his eye‑tracking system with a mind‑controlled cursor and added an Insta360 Link 2 webcam to create a periscope that lets him see family members and monitor his surroundings. Neuralink helped integrate the camera into his wheelchair setup, while custom control panels accelerated its movement. Other BCI users, such as Nathan Copeland and Ian Burkhart, echo Smith’s DIY approach, highlighting the need for early collaboration between users and researchers to make brain‑computer interfaces more practical for everyday tasks. Read more →

Sam Altman’s New Venture, Merge Labs, Targets Non‑Invasive Brain‑Computer Interfaces

Sam Altman’s New Venture, Merge Labs, Targets Non‑Invasive Brain‑Computer Interfaces
Sam Altman is preparing to launch a brain‑computer interface startup, Merge Labs, alongside co‑founder Alex Blania. The company has recruited Caltech biomolecular engineer Mikhail Shapiro to its founding team and is expected to seek hundreds of millions of dollars in funding from OpenAI and other investors. Merge Labs aims to develop non‑invasive neural technologies that use ultrasound and gene‑editing techniques, positioning itself as a contrast to more invasive approaches such as Neuralink. Altman has publicly expressed a preference for read‑only, non‑surgical interfaces that could let users interact with AI systems like ChatGPT directly with thought. Read more →