OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is now venturing into the field of brain technology. He has invested in a startup called Merge Labs, which is developing a non-surgical Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). This device will be able to read human thoughts using sound waves and magnetic fields, posing a direct challenge to Elon Musk's Neuralink.
Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI): OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has invested in a startup named Merge Labs, which is developing a non-surgical Brain-Computer Interface capable of reading human thoughts. This technology will be able to detect brain activity with the help of ultrasound and magnetic fields. Altman's move directly competes with Elon Musk's Neuralink, which is developing surgery-based implants. Merge Labs is currently in the process of raising ₹2,195 crore in funding, and Altman might also be made a co-founder.
Reading Brain Thoughts Without Surgery
Merge Labs' BCI will read brain activities using sound waves and magnetic fields. Its most significant feature is that it will not require any surgery, meaning the device will not need to be implanted inside the body. This is what differentiates it from Neuralink and makes it safer.
This technology will utilize ultrasound and genetic engineering to enable communication between the brain and a machine. For this mission, Altman has assembled a specialized team of experts, including scientists like Mikhail Shapiro, who are proficient in ultrasound-based neural interface technology.
Questions Raised on Neuralink's Surgical Model
Sam Altman has previously questioned surgery-based brain implants. He stated in August that he would not want any chip implanted in his brain due to the increased risk of neuron damage. He believes that technology should advance without interfering with the human body.
Merge Labs is also promoting this very idea. The company's objective is solely to understand human thoughts, not to change them. Currently, the company is in the process of raising approximately ₹2,195 crore in funding. According to reports, Altman could also be made a co-founder of Merge Labs.
Musk vs. Altman
Elon Musk's Neuralink is already an active project that has secured US approval for human trials. Meanwhile, Sam Altman's Merge Labs is attempting to bring a new turn to this race through its non-surgical model.
This competition is being viewed as the next major rivalry between two titans in the tech world — on one side, Musk, who relies on a hardware-based approach, and on the other, Altman, who is focusing on soft and non-invasive technology.
Sam Altman's investment in Merge Labs demonstrates that Brain-Computer Interfaces are no longer science fiction but are becoming the next major chapter in technology. If Merge Labs delivers on its promise, it will not only challenge Neuralink but could also redefine the direction of human-machine interaction.
