Altman to Fund Brain Implant Startup Challenging Neuralink
In a significant development poised to intensify the burgeoning brain-computer interface (BCI) sector, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is reportedly throwing his weight behind a new startup named Merge Labs. This venture is set to directly challenge Elon Musk’s Neuralink, injecting fresh competitive vigor into the race to seamlessly integrate human thought with digital systems.
Merge Labs, co-founded by Altman and Alex Blania, CEO of Tools for Humanity (a firm also backed by Altman responsible for the iris-scanning digital ID project World), is in early discussions to raise approximately $250 million, aiming for a valuation of around $850 million. A substantial portion of this funding is anticipated to come from OpenAI’s venture arm, underscoring the deep connection to Altman’s broader technological vision. While Altman will not assume a day-to-day operational role, his strategic involvement signals a profound commitment to what he terms “the merge”—the idea of a future where humans and technology become increasingly intertwined, redefining human capabilities.
This move by Altman comes as Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk in 2016, continues to make strides in its own BCI endeavors. Neuralink recently garnered significant attention by demonstrating how its brain-computer interface enables individuals to control digital devices, including video games, purely with their minds. One such demonstration featured Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old quadriplegic patient, effortlessly playing online chess and even the complex strategy game Civilization VI, highlighting the profound potential for restoring independence. Another patient, identified as Alex, also with a spinal cord injury, was shown playing Counter-Strike 2, controlling the mouse with his thoughts while using a separate device for movement, marking a significant leap in enabling simultaneous actions in gaming. Neuralink has confirmed six successful human implants and has expanded its trials to the UK, Canada, and the UAE, having recently secured $650 million in a Series E funding round, pushing its valuation to an impressive $9 billion.
The emergence of Merge Labs underscores the accelerating interest and investment in BCI technology, a field poised to revolutionize human-computer interaction and offer transformative solutions for individuals with severe paralysis and other neurological conditions. While Neuralink has been a prominent player, the landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, with other notable firms like Synchron, which has already achieved integration with Apple systems, and Paradromics, preparing for its first human trials, also vying for market leadership.
The entry of Merge Labs also adds another intriguing chapter to the long-standing rivalry between Sam Altman and Elon Musk. The two tech titans, who initially co-founded OpenAI in 2015, have since become fierce competitors across various fronts, including artificial intelligence. This latest strategic maneuver into the brain-computer interface domain suggests a deepening of this competitive dynamic, potentially accelerating innovation and bringing advanced BCI solutions closer to reality for a wider audience. As both companies push the boundaries of what’s possible, the ethical considerations and the long-term societal implications of such profound human-technology integration will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of public discourse.