OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is co-founding Merge Labs, a new brain-computer interface startup aiming to compete directly with Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Valued at around $850 million and seeking $250 million in funding, Merge Labs focuses on less invasive brain implants enhanced with AI to improve human-machine connections beyond medical uses. The project could be funded by OpenAI’s ventures arm and involves Alex Blania, known for biometric ID innovations. The rivalry between Altman and Musk, former OpenAI co-founders turned competitors, extends from AI into brain-computer technology, marking a dramatic chapter in Silicon Valley’s tech battles.
Read more: Engadget
