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Sam Altman's Merge Labs Secures $252M for Brain-Computer Interfaces with OpenAI Investment
Importance: 85/1004 Sources
Why It Matters
This development signifies a major step towards integrating human cognition with AI, potentially revolutionizing how we interact with technology and augmenting human capabilities. It also highlights Sam Altman's expanding influence beyond OpenAI into cutting-edge neurotechnology.
Key Intelligence
- ■Sam Altman's new brain-computer interface (BCI) startup, Merge Labs, has emerged from stealth mode, raising $252 million in funding.
- ■OpenAI is a key investor, backing Merge Labs' mission to develop BCIs that bridge biological and artificial intelligence.
- ■The company aims to enhance human ability, agency, and experience by linking brains and computers.
- ■Merge Labs plans to use ultrasound technology to read from and write to the human brain.
Source Coverage
Google News - AI & Bloomberg
1/15/2026Altman’s Merge Raises $252 Million to Link Brains and Computers - Bloomberg.com
OpenAI Blog
1/15/2026Investing in Merge Labs
Google News - AI & TechCrunch
1/15/2026OpenAI invests in Sam Altman’s brain computer interface startup Merge Labs - TechCrunch
Wired.com
1/15/2026