OpenAI has become the largest investor in a $252 million funding round for Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface company co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The company is dedicated to developing devices that connect the human brain with computers, aiming for seamless integration between humans and artificial intelligence. This move signals an expansion of the competition between Altman and Musk from the artificial intelligence arena into the brain-computer interface track.
According to a report on the 16th, this funding round was led by Bain Capital, with OpenAI serving as the primary investor. Other investors include Valve Corporation co-founder Gabe Newell, who also owns his own brain technology company, Starfish Neuroscience. Merge stated it has no immediate plans for further fundraising.
Merge plans to initially develop products for medical applications before launching offerings for general consumers. The company has not disclosed its valuation. Data from PitchBook indicates that among major brain-computer interface companies, only Neuralink has secured a single funding round larger than Merge's.
This substantial investment underscores the expectations of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors for the future: when artificial intelligence becomes sufficiently advanced, humans will be willing, or even compelled, to enhance their brains to fully leverage AI. Just as smartphones provide a gateway to the digital world, experimental brain technologies are being designed to streamline this experience.
Diverging from competitors like Neuralink, Merge's objective is to develop non-invasive brain-computer interface devices. Co-founder and Caltech professor Mikhail Shapiro stated that this approach requires solving challenging scientific and engineering problems, which is why Merge was established as a research laboratory.
"The founding idea behind Merge Labs is that by focusing on these problems in a coordinated, well-resourced way, we can solve them faster," said Shapiro, who has been studying the brain for decades. One of the company's core goals is to build high-bandwidth devices capable of handling massive amounts of data. "If we can interface with the brain directly at higher bandwidths, we should be able to do things that are currently limited by existing interface capabilities," Shapiro noted. However, Merge says it is still too early to discuss specific applications.
The launch of Merge intensifies the rivalry between Altman and Musk. Once close business partners and co-founders of OpenAI, Musk left the organization due to disagreements. Altman had previously invested in Neuralink as well.
Musk founded Neuralink in 2016 with the aim of developing implantable devices to enhance human capabilities and ensure humanity is not left behind by advancements in artificial intelligence. Experimental brain implants already exist that help patients with severe conditions, such as paralysis, control computers with their thoughts and convert attempted speech into audible words.
According to reports, Altman expressed at a dinner with journalists last August his desire to be able to have ChatGPT respond simply by thinking. The following month, Neuralink's president discussed a similar concept. Other researchers are already working on devices that can read attempted or intended speech directly from the brain.
The brain-computer interface field has experienced rapid growth in recent years, fueled by AI advancements that provide the necessary computational power for brain implant devices. The industry in the United States has raised over $2 billion, while similar enterprises in China are also developing rapidly with government support. Some companies are focusing on developing non-surgical products, like external headwear, believing these will be more appealing to the mass market.
Merge has offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and currently employs fewer than 50 people, with plans to continue hiring. The company has not yet established the roles of President or Chief Executive Officer.
Altman serves on Merge's board in a personal capacity, meaning he can continue in this role even if he no longer holds the CEO position at OpenAI. OpenAI holds the right to a board observer seat but has not yet selected a representative. The board also includes Merge's four other co-founders.
Comments