Imagine a world where your brain communicates directly with a computer, without the need for surgery. That is the goal of the new startup Merge Labs, founded by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. OpenAI announced that it is investing in this project, which focuses on connecting the human brain with artificial intelligence (AI). Merge Labs has raised a total of $252 million (approximately CZK 5.8 billion) from investors including OpenAI, Bain Capital, video game developer Gabe Newell, and others. This investment will enable collaboration on developing technologies that read and influence the brain using ultrasound.
Merge Labs presents itself as a research laboratory seeking to combine biological and artificial intelligence to enhance human capabilities. Its approach differs from Elon Musk's rival company Neuralink. While Neuralink requires invasive surgery in which a robot removes part of the skull and inserts thin electrodes directly into the brain, Merge Labs promises a non-invasive method. It uses molecules instead of electrodes and ultrasound to transmit information. On its website, it describes interfaces that are "an equal blend of biology, devices, and AI in a form that we would want to use ourselves and that is widely accessible."
How Merge Labs Works and What It Plans
Merge Labs is based on the idea of the "merge," a Silicon Valley concept in which human and machine intelligence combine into a hybrid consciousness. Sam Altman wrote about it as early as 2017 on his blog, where he speculated that such a merge could occur between 2025 and 2075. According to him, it could mean inserting electrons into the brain or forming a close friendship with a chatbot. Altman sees this as the best-case scenario for humanity's survival alongside superintelligent AI, which he describes as a separate species in conflict with humans.
Merge Labs focuses on reading and modulating the brain using ultrasound, which differs from most brain-computer interfaces that directly measure the electrical activity of neurons. The ultrasound device interprets neural activity indirectly through changes in blood flow in the brain. The company was spun out of Forest Neurotech, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization founded in 2023. Forest Neurotech is interested in mental disorders and brain injuries, which could indicate Merge Labs' initial areas of focus. Forest Neurotech's miniature ultrasound device is currently being tested in an early-stage safety study in the United Kingdom.
OpenAI's Role and the Competition
OpenAI became the largest investor in Merge Labs' seed round, which valued the company at $850 million (approximately CZK 19.6 billion). OpenAI will collaborate on scientific foundation models and other tools to accelerate progress. According to OpenAI's announcement, high-bandwidth interfaces will benefit from AI operating systems capable of interpreting intent, adapting to individuals, and operating reliably even with limited or noisy signals.
This move intensifies the rivalry between Sam Altman and Elon Musk. Altman previously invested in Neuralink, which has raised $1.3 billion (approximately CZK 30 billion) and closed a $650 million round (approximately CZK 15 billion) in June 2025 at a valuation of $9 billion (approximately CZK 207 billion). Neuralink has implanted devices in at least 12 volunteers. Another competitor, Synchron, has raised $345 million (approximately CZK 7.9 billion) and is collaborating with Nvidia on foundation models for the brain. Synchron implants its device in a blood vessel next to the brain, rather than directly into the tissue, and helps paralyzed people control cursors or robotic arms. In the future, AI could enable more complex tasks.
Potential Applications of the Interface
Merge Labs has not yet specified any particular applications, but Forest Neurotech's interest in mental health and brain injuries suggests a possible direction. Brain-computer interfaces generally help paralyzed people, but Merge Labs appears to be focused on enhancing human capabilities, such as improving communication, learning, or interaction with technology. OpenAI believes that such interfaces will create a natural way for anyone to connect with AI.
This deal is part of a broader trend in which OpenAI invests in startups connected to Altman, such as Red Queen Bio, Rain AI, and Harvey. OpenAI also has agreements with Altman's companies, including Helion Energy and Oklo. In addition, OpenAI is working with Jony Ive's startup io on screenless AI hardware, possibly in the form of headphones.
Altman believes that the merge is already well underway and will become even stranger. According to him, we are the first species to design our own descendants, and we can either serve as a biological bootloader for digital intelligence or find a successful way to merge.
Source: techcrunch.com
