OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is launching a new brain-computer interface startup called Merge Labs. The venture, which aims to read brain activity using ultrasound, is being spun out from the Los Angeles-based nonprofit Forest Neurotech. Details come from a source familiar with the plans.
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is venturing into neuroscience with Merge Labs, a startup focused on brain-computer interfaces. According to a person with direct knowledge of the initiative, Merge Labs will emerge as a separate entity from Forest Neurotech, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles.
The core technology of Merge Labs involves using ultrasound to detect and interpret brain activity, positioning it within the growing field of brain-computer interfaces. This approach differs from more invasive methods like those explored by companies such as Neuralink, though specifics on development timelines or funding remain undisclosed in the available information.
Forest Neurotech, the parent nonprofit, has been working on related neurotechnology projects, and the spin-out allows Merge Labs to operate independently while leveraging that foundation. The move underscores Altman's expanding interests beyond artificial intelligence, into direct human-brain interactions.
No official announcements have been made by Altman or the involved parties, but the plans highlight ongoing innovations in how technology interfaces with the human mind. This development occurs amid broader advancements in neuroscience and startups tackling brain-related challenges.
