Merge Labs Funding Reveals OpenAI’s Bet On Noninvasive Brain-Computer Interfaces Led By Sam Altman.

Merge Labs Funding Reveals OpenAI’s Bet On Noninvasive Brain-Computer Interfaces Led By Sam Altman.

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 Images A 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 bett…