OpenAI Invests in Sam Altman’s New Brain-Computer Interface Startup Merge Labs

OpenAI has officially backed Merge Labs, a new research venture co-founded by its own CEO, Sam Altman. The company emerged on January 15, 2026, with a mission to build a high-bandwidth link between the human brain and artificial intelligence. This investment is part of a historic $252 million seed round led by Bain Capital Ventures, valuing the startup at approximately $850 million. This funding represents a notable circular deal, as Altman is effectively steering capital from his primary organization into a venture he personally co-founded. The investment signals a deep strategic alignment between the world's leading AI lab and the biological hardware meant to host it. Other prominent backers include Worldcoin's Alex Blania and Valve's Gabe Newell, who has long expressed interest in neural gaming interfaces.

A Biological Approach to BCI

Unlike competitors such as Neuralink, Merge Labs is shunning invasive surgical implants and metallic electrodes. The team is developing a system that uses molecular engineering and focused ultrasound to communicate with neurons. This approach aims to provide high-bandwidth connectivity without the risks associated with drilling into the skull or inserting wires into brain tissue.

The founding team brings together a mix of Silicon Valley strategy and deep academic science. It includes Caltech pioneer Mikhail Shapiro and neurotech experts Sumner Norman and Tyson Aflalo. Together, they are building a Public Benefit Corporation designed to think in decades rather than years, prioritizing safety and accessibility for the general population.

The long-term goal is to maximize human agency and experience as AI continues to evolve at a rapid pace. While early products will focus on medical recovery for patients with neurological injuries, the ultimate vision is a broadly accessible tool for human augmentation. You can find more about their specific technical roadmap on their official blog.