OpenAI has made a significant investment in Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface (BCI) startup led by its CEO, Sam Altman. The company emerged from stealth on January 15, 2026, announcing a $250 million seed round at an $850 million valuation. OpenAI, being the largest contributor, joins a range of investors in this mission to bridge biological and artificial intelligence to enhance human capabilities. Merge Labs aims to achieve this through non-invasive technology that connects neurons using molecules rather than electrodes, focusing on deep-reaching methods like ultrasound.
The company’s statement emphasizes the potential of BCIs to restore lost abilities, support brain health, and enable human-AI synergy. This development places Merge Labs in direct competition with Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which requires invasive procedures to insert electrodes into the brain. While Neuralink is focused on aiding people with severe paralysis, Merge Labs envisions broader applications, including enhancing human abilities and achieving "superhuman" capabilities.
OpenAI’s involvement highlights the strategic role of AI in advancing BCI research. The company sees BCIs as a revolutionary technology that will create natural, human-centered ways for people to interact with AI. The deal includes a partnership between OpenAI and Merge Labs to work on scientific foundation models and cutting-edge tools to accelerate progress.
The Merge Labs team, led by Alex Blania and Sandro Herbig, includes co-founders from other Altman-backed ventures. The company’s research will focus on advancing BCI technology and its integration with AI systems, ultimately aiming to enable seamless interaction between humans and machines.
OpenAI’s involvement in Merge Labs reflects its ongoing investments in groundbreaking technologies, including ventures connected to Altman, such as Red Queen Bio and Helion Energy. This investment comes as Altman has long championed the concept of a "merge" between humans and machines, a vision he has advocated for since 2017 as a safeguard against potential superintelligent AI.
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