OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is entering the brain-computer interface (BCI) race with a new venture, Merge Labs, setting up a direct and high-stakes rivalry with Elon Musk’s Neuralink. The new startup, first reported by the Financial Times, aims to fuse human cognition with artificial intelligence, a long-held ambition of Altman’s.
The move intensifies the already heated competition between two of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures, expanding their battleground from the future of AI to the very frontier of human-machine integration.
A New Approach to Brain-Computer Interfaces
Altman and Alex Blania, the mind behind the iris-scanning digital ID project, Worldcoin are co-founding Merge Labs. While details are still emerging, the startup’s mission is to develop high-bandwidth BCIs that are more widely scalable and, crucially, less invasive than the surgical implants pioneered by Neuralink.
The focus is expected to extend beyond purely medical applications, aiming to create brain-machine links that are faster and more responsive for a broader range of uses. This aligns with a prediction Altman made back in 2017, where he suggested a merger of human intelligence and AI would likely happen by 2025.
According to the report, Altman will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of Merge Labs, but his role as a co-founder provides significant strategic direction and influence. The startup is reportedly already valued at approximately $850 million and is seeking to raise an additional $250 million, with a significant portion expected to come from OpenAI’s own venture arm.
A Direct Challenge to Neuralink
The launch of Merge Labs puts it in direct competition with Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which currently has a significant head start. Neuralink, valued at a hefty $9 billion, is already conducting human trials and achieved a major milestone in 2024 when a patient with one of its brain implants was able to control a computer cursor using only their thoughts.
The rivalry between Altman and Musk has been well-documented, with public spats over AI safety and strategy. The expansion of their competition into the BCI space adds another layer of intrigue and is expected to accelerate the pace of development in this groundbreaking but controversial field.
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Ethical Considerations and the Road Ahead
While the technological race is heating up, Merge Labs will need to navigate the significant ethical concerns surrounding brain-computer interfaces. The success of such a venture will depend not only on technical breakthroughs but also on public trust and responsible innovation.
For now, the emergence of a well-funded competitor to Neuralink signals that the quest to merge the human mind with machines is moving from the realm of science fiction into the mainstream of venture-backed technology.
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