OpenAI invests in Sam Altman’s brain-computer interface startup

OpenAI has invested in co-founder Sam Altman’s brain-computer interface startup Merge Labs.

The generative AI provider was a major investor in the company’s US$252m seed round.

A brain-computer interface allows direct communication between the brain and external devices.

The potential for an investment was rumoured in the middle of last year.

OpenAI said in a blog post: “We are excited to support and collaborate with Merge Labs as they turn an ambitious idea into reality and ultimately products that are useful for people.”

Along with Altman, Merge Labs’ co-founders include technology entrepreneurs Alex Blania and Sandro Herbig, as well as researchers Mikhail Shapiro, Tyson Aflalo and Sumner Norman.

The startup is starting out as a research lab.

In an inaugural blog post on the company’s website, the co-founders said: “Our individual experience of the world arises from billions of active neurons.

“If we can interface with these neurons at scale, we could restore lost abilities, support healthier brain states, deepen our connection with each other, and expand what we can imagine and create alongside advanced AI.

“We believe this requires increasing the bandwidth and brain coverage of BCIs by several orders of magnitude while making them much less invasive.

“To make this happen, we’re developing entirely new technologies that connect with neurons using molecules instead of electrodes, transmit and receive information using deep-reaching modalities like ultrasound, and avoid implants into brain tissue.

“Recent breakthroughs in biotechnology, hardware, neuroscience, and computing made by our team and others convince us that this is possible.

“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.”

Merge Labs represents another battle between Altman and Elon Musk, who backs Neuralink.

The two co-founded OpenAI but have clashed since Musk left the company’s board in 2018.

Neuralink is one of many companies vying to be the first to bring a brain-computer interface implant to market.

In autumn 2024, analysts suggested a potential US$400bn market opportunity for the technology.