Merge Labs Funding: OpenAI Backs Sam Altman’s Noninvasive BCI Vision
Is OpenAI investing in brain-computer interfaces? Yes—and it’s backing none other than its own CEO, Sam Altman. In a move that blurs the lines between AI and neuroscience, OpenAI has led a $250 million seed round in Merge Labs, Altman’s newly unveiled brain-computer interface (BCI) startup. Valued at $850 million, Merge Labs promises a radical departure from today’s invasive neural tech by using molecular and ultrasound-based methods to connect human brains with artificial intelligence—noninvasively. But what does this mean for the future of human cognition, medical therapy, and even everyday tech?
Credit: Getty ImagesA New Era of Brain-Computer Interfaces Begins
Merge Labs emerged from stealth on January 14, 2026, with a bold mission: to “bridge biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability.” Unlike competitors like Neuralink—which require brain surgery to implant electrode threads—Merge Labs is betting on entirely new modalities that avoid cutting into the skull altogether.
According to the company, its approach leverages molecules and deep-reaching ultrasound to both transmit and receive neural signals. This could eliminate the risks associated with neurosurgery while opening doors to broader consumer applications beyond medical rehabilitation. If successful, the technology might one day let users control digital devices, access AI assistance, or even share thoughts—all without a single incision.
Why OpenAI Is All-In on Merge Labs
OpenAI’s investment isn’t just symbolic—it’s strategic. The AI giant confirmed it wrote the largest check in Merge Labs’ seed round, signaling strong alignment between its long-term vision for artificial general intelligence (AGI) and human augmentation.
In a blog post, OpenAI stated: “Brain-computer interfaces are an important new frontier. They open new ways to communicate, learn, and collaborate with AI systems.” The implication is clear: as AI becomes more capable, the bottleneck shifts from machine intelligence to human input and output. BCIs could be the missing link that lets humans keep pace with—or even co-evolve alongside—superintelligent systems.
This also marks a deepening of Sam Altman’s personal stake in the BCI race. Already known for steering OpenAI through its most transformative years, Altman now adds neurotech entrepreneur to his résumé—a role that puts him in direct competition with Elon Musk’s Neuralink.
Noninvasive vs. Invasive: The Great BCI Divide
The key differentiator for Merge Labs lies in its commitment to noninvasive technology. While Neuralink’s surgical implants have shown promising results—enabling paralyzed patients to control computers with their thoughts—they come with significant barriers: infection risk, high costs, and limited accessibility.
Merge Labs aims to sidestep these issues entirely. By using ultrasound and molecular signaling, the startup hopes to achieve high-bandwidth neural communication without breaching the blood-brain barrier. Early research suggests ultrasound can modulate neuron activity deep within the brain, and when paired with engineered biomolecules, it may enable two-way data flow.
Experts remain cautiously optimistic. “Noninvasive BCIs have historically struggled with signal resolution,” says Dr. Lena Cho, a neuroengineer at Stanford. “But if Merge Labs has cracked a new physics or biochemistry layer, it could be a game-changer—not just for medicine, but for how we interact with technology.”
Beyond Medicine: The Silicon Valley Dream of Cognitive Augmentation
While Neuralink emphasizes therapeutic use cases—restoring movement, speech, or vision—Merge Labs casts a wider net. Its vision leans into the transhumanist ideal: enhancing healthy humans with AI-powered cognitive upgrades.
Imagine learning a new language in hours by syncing your brain with a language model, or collaborating on a design project by sharing mental visualizations directly with teammates. Merge Labs’ statement hints at exactly this: “deepen our connection with each other, and expand what we can imagine and create alongside advanced AI.”
Critics argue this veers into speculative territory. “We’re still decoding basic neural patterns,” warns ethicist Dr. Marcus Rivera. “Jumping straight to ‘superhuman creativity’ ignores the immense complexity of consciousness and the ethical minefield of cognitive enhancement.”
Yet in Silicon Valley, ambition often outpaces caution. And with OpenAI’s backing, Merge Labs now has the capital, talent, and AI infrastructure to turn sci-fi into reality—faster than many expect.
The Competitive Landscape Heats Up
Elon Musk isn’t the only rival in this space. Companies like Synchron (which uses a minimally invasive stent-based electrode) and CTRL-Labs (acquired by Meta) have also pursued neural interfaces, though with varying degrees of invasiveness and commercial focus.
But Merge Labs’ entry changes the game. With Altman’s dual roles at OpenAI and Merge Labs, the startup gains instant credibility, access to cutting-edge AI models, and a potential integration path into future AI ecosystems. Could your next ChatGPT interaction happen through thought alone? That’s the future Merge Labs is building toward.
Meanwhile, Neuralink continues clinical trials under FDA oversight, with its first human patient reportedly able to play chess using only neural signals. But its surgical requirement limits scalability—something Merge Labs is explicitly designed to solve.
Ethical Questions Loom Large
As exciting as noninvasive BCIs sound, they raise profound ethical questions. Who owns your neural data? Could employers or governments demand access? And what happens when cognitive enhancements become available only to the wealthy?
Merge Labs hasn’t yet detailed its data privacy framework, but given OpenAI’s recent emphasis on safety and alignment, it’s likely these issues are top of mind. Still, the industry lacks regulatory guardrails for consumer-grade BCIs—a gap that could widen as startups race to market.
“Neurotechnology demands a new social contract,” says bioethicist Priya Mehta. “We need transparency, consent standards, and strict limits on how neural data can be used—before the tech becomes ubiquitous.”
What’s Next for Merge Labs?
The company says it will spend the next 18–24 months focused on foundational R&D, animal studies, and early human feasibility trials. No product timeline has been announced, but insiders suggest a developer kit or research platform could emerge by late 2027.
For now, Merge Labs remains a research lab—but one with $250 million in war chest and the full weight of OpenAI behind it. In a world racing toward tighter human-AI integration, this investment may prove to be one of the most consequential moves of the decade.
OpenAI’s backing of Merge Labs isn’t just another startup bet—it’s a declaration of where the future of intelligence is headed. By pursuing noninvasive brain-computer interfaces, Sam Altman and his team are aiming to make neural augmentation safe, scalable, and accessible. Whether this leads to medical breakthroughs, cognitive superpowers, or something entirely unforeseen, one thing is certain: the boundary between mind and machine is about to get a lot blurrier.
And for the rest of us? It might be time to start thinking—literally—about what comes next.
