OpenAI Invests in Sam Altman's Brain‑Computer Interface Startup Merge Labs
Key Points
- OpenAI led the largest single investment in Merge Labs' seed round, valuing the startup at $850 million.
- Merge Labs focuses on non‑invasive brain‑computer interfaces using molecules and ultrasound.
- The partnership includes collaboration on scientific foundation models and AI tools to accelerate BCI research.
- Merge Labs' approach contrasts with Neuralink’s invasive surgical method.
- Co‑founders will maintain roles at their existing companies while serving on Merge Labs’ board.
- The deal aligns with OpenAI’s pattern of investing in Altman‑linked frontier technology startups.
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.
Background and Investment Details
OpenAI participated in Merge Labs’ seed financing, writing the largest single check in a round that values the startup at $850 million. The round, described as a seed round, was disclosed without a specific monetary amount for OpenAI’s contribution. Merge Labs emerged from stealth with a focus on brain‑computer interface (BCI) technology that avoids traditional electrode implants.
Merge Labs' Vision and Technology
Merge Labs defines itself as a research lab dedicated to bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability. The company’s approach centers on non‑invasive methods, using molecules instead of electrodes to interface with neurons and employing deep‑reaching modalities such as ultrasound to transmit and receive information. The founders state that scaling this interface could restore lost abilities, support healthier brain states, deepen human connections, and expand creative possibilities alongside advanced AI.
OpenAI’s Role and Collaborative Plans
OpenAI’s investment is coupled with a partnership to work on scientific foundation models and frontier tools that could accelerate progress in bioengineering, neuroscience, and device engineering. OpenAI notes that AI can help interpret intent, adapt to individuals, and operate reliably with limited and noisy signals, potentially turning Merge Labs’ technology into a natural, human‑centered way for anyone to interact seamlessly with AI.
Industry Context and Comparison
The announcement places Merge Labs in direct comparison with Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which develops invasive BCI chips that require surgical implantation. Neuralink’s most recent fundraising round valued the company at $9 billion. While Neuralink focuses on medical use cases for severe paralysis, Merge Labs appears oriented toward broader applications that blend human biology with AI to achieve superhuman capabilities.
Founders and Ongoing Roles
Merge Labs was co‑founded by Alex Blania (CEO) and Sandro Herbig (product and engineering lead) of Tools for Humanity, as well as Tyson Aflalo and Sumner Norman of Forest Neurotech, and Caltech researcher Mikhail Shapiro. The co‑founders will retain their positions at their respective organizations while serving on Merge Labs’ board.
Strategic Implications
The investment reflects OpenAI’s broader strategy of supporting startups connected to Sam Altman’s ecosystem, including previous investments in Red Queen Bio, Rain AI, and Harvey, as well as commercial agreements with Altman‑affiliated companies such as Helion Energy and Oklo. By backing Merge Labs, OpenAI may foster technologies that expand its user base and reinforce its position at the intersection of AI and emerging neurotechnology.