Sam Altman-Backed Merge Labs Aims to Rival Neuralink in Brain-Computer Interface Race

OpenAI's venture arm is making a significant investment in Merge Labs, a startup co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania, aiming to develop high-bandwidth brain implants. The company seeks to merge human cognition with artificial intelligence, directly competing with Elon Musk's Neuralink.

Merge Labs is targeting a $250 million raise at an $850 million valuation. While Altman holds the title of co-founder, his day-to-day involvement remains limited—for now. The venture's name reflects its ambition to achieve "the merge," a theoretical convergence of humans and machines.

Tensions between Altman and Musk flared publicly this week as Musk accused Apple of antitrust violations that allegedly favor OpenAI in the App Store. The dispute underscores the growing rivalry between two of tech's most prominent AI visionaries.