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

OpenAI has invested in Merge Labs, a neurotechnology startup co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, aiming to develop brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that connect human brains to computers using ultrasound technology. Merge Labs has raised $252 million from investors including OpenAI, Bain Capital, and Gabe Newell. Unlike Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which implants electrodes directly into the brain, Merge plans to use non-invasive methods involving molecules and ultrasound to read and modulate neural activity without implants. The company envisions interfaces that integrate biology, devices, and AI to create accessible, user-friendly brain-computer connections. AI will be central to Merge’s approach, with OpenAI collaborating on scientific foundation models to interpret neural signals, adapt to individuals, and improve interface reliability despite noisy data. This could enable more complex brain-computer interactions beyond current capabilities, such as controlling cursors or robotic arms. Merge is a spinoff of Forest Neurotech, a nonprofit focused on brain research, particularly mental