The announcement follows an OpenAI investment of an undisclosed size in Merge Labs. This brain-computer interface startup, co-founded by Sam Altman, is the latest and perhaps most significant move in the quickly growing world of artificial intelligence and human augmentation. At the time, that investment was part of a total $250M seed round during which OpenAI wrote the biggest single check. That round has propelled Merge Labs to an equally impressive valuation of $850 million.
Merge Labs’ mission is to fundamentally change the way humans interact with technology, creating new hardware that breaks the mold of today’s conventional screens. The company is just beginning to prototype a consumer device, which could take the form of an earbud. Yet, this has not been definitively proven. The 13-person startup based in Berkeley, CA, focuses on developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). This revolutionary technology has the ability to both read and write neural signals, creating a profound connection between human cognition and AI.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO. Beyond that, he’s cemented his legacy as one of the most important players shaping the tech landscape. He co-founded Tools for Humanity and is working closely with Jony Ive’s startup. OpenAI snatched that startup up last year. This collaborative portfolio is a testament to Altman’s leadership in pushing the envelope on technological innovation.
At Merge Labs, we want to use artificial intelligence to fuse human biology with AI in order to augment human capabilities beyond our current biological limitations. The startup competes directly with Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Just last week, Neuralink announced a $650 million Series E round that values the company at a ridiculous $9 billion. As the talent and competition for brain-computer technologies accelerate, Merge Labs is well-positioned to compete and win as the leader in advancing brain-computer interface technologies.
The co-founding team at Merge Labs Alex Blania, Sandro Herbig, Tyson Aflalo, Sumner Norman and Mikhail Shapiro. Not to mention that each member is deeply passionate about doing the city’s mission. In a statement reflecting on their vision, Merge Labs explained, “Our individual experience of the world arises from billions of active neurons.” This view looks at the work of creative technologists, artists, and scientists for their transformative power and ability to enhance the human experience and ability.
Merge Labs has a big, bold vision. They are convinced that the ability to interface with neurons at scale is what will unlock truly great progress. The team stated, “If we can interface with these neurons at scale, we could restore lost abilities, support healthier brain states, deepen our connection with each other, and expand what we can imagine and create alongside advanced AI.”
OpenAI’s stake in Merge Labs highlights the growing importance of brain-computer interfaces in the technology sector. An OpenAI spokesperson said, “Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) are an exciting and critical new frontier. They unlock new doors to exploration, discovery, and engagement with our rapidly advancing world. BCIs promise a more intuitive, human-centric interface that opens the door for everyone to have a seamless, AI-powered experience. That’s just one of the reasons why OpenAI is joining Merge Labs’ seed round.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the magnitude of these developments, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been very vocal about where he thinks all this is taking humanity. He noted, “Although the merge has already begun, it’s going to get a lot weirder.” He elaborated on the consequences of combining biology and tech intelligence. We’re going to be the first species in history that designs our own offspring,” he explained. We could be the mother of all biological bootloaders for a superceding digital intelligence before we wither away down some evolutionary tree branch. Or, we can imagine something very different—a successful merger between humans and technology.
Merge Labs is on a very ambitious path. Like never before, it is set to determine how human and non-human agents will relate to each other in our most foundational ways. The ambitious tech company is riding on the wave of the most recent advancements in brain-machine connections. Its ultimate aim is to improve human potential and reimagine the human experience in our ever-more tech-driven society.
