Altman's Startup Will Connect the Brain to ChatGPT Without Surgery

Sam Altman has introduced Merge Labs, a startup focused on developing neurointerfaces using ultrasound. The company has exited stealth mode and raised $252 million in a seed round, valuing itself at $850 million. The main investor is OpenAI, with other contributors including Bain Capital and Gabe Newell, one of the founders of Valve, according to media reports.

One of the key differences between Merge Labs and Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, is the lack of need for surgical intervention. While Neuralink requires craniotomy and the installation of electrodes, Merge Labs focuses on using ultrasound and molecules that enhance neural signals. This method allows for "reading" brain activity without the need for skull opening. This technology was developed based on the work of the nonprofit lab Forest Neurotech, which has already conducted trials on patients with traumatic brain injuries.
Among the co-founders of Merge Labs are researchers Mikhail Shapiro (Caltech), Tyson Afflalo, and Sumner Norman from Forest Neurotech. They are joined by Alex Blania and Sandro Herbig, CEO and product leader of Tools for Humanity, the creator of the World iris scanners. Sam Altman is participating in the project "in a personal capacity."
OpenAI explained its interest in the deal by stating that neurointerfaces could create a "natural way to interact with AI," and also offered assistance to Merge Labs in developing scientific models and tools. Both parties in the deal stand to benefit: if Merge Labs' technology works successfully, it could serve as a kind of interface for OpenAI's products.
This deal intensifies the rivalry between Altman and Musk. Neuralink raised $650 million in June 2025 and has already implanted devices in 12 volunteers. Merge Labs is aware that their developments may take "decades, not years." According to Morgan Stanley estimates, the neurointerface market in the U.S. could reach $400 billion.