techcrunch.com
OpenAI has invested in Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface (BCI) startup co-founded by CEO Sam Altman, as part of a $250 million seed round. Unlike Elon Musk’s invasive Neuralink, Merge Labs aims to develop non-invasive technology using ultrasound and molecules to connect biological and artificial intelligence.
The move deepens Altman’s competition with Musk and creates a circular economic loop: OpenAI’s funding helps build an interface that could drive users to its own AI systems. Altman has long advocated for a technological “merge” between humans and machines, viewing it as a necessary evolution for humanity to survive alongside advanced AI. Alongside the startup’s medical goals, Merge Labs claims it intends to maximize human ability, blurring the line between therapy and Silicon Valley’s pursuit of superhuman capabilities.
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