Sam Altman's brain chip venture is mulling gene therapy approach

Time of India

21 hours ago

The brain chip company that has drawn interest from Sam Altman and his artificial intelligence business OpenAI is exploring the idea of genetically altering brain cells to make better implants.The company, which has been referred to as Merge Labs , is looking at an approach involving gene therapy that would modify brain cells, according to people familiar with the plans who weren't authorised to speak publicly on the matter. In addition, an ultrasound device would be implanted in the head that could detect and modulate activity in the modified cells, these people said.It's one of a handful of ideas and technologies the company has been exploring, they said. The venture is still in early stages and could evolve significantly.'We have not done that deal yet,' Altman told journalists at a dinner Thursday in San Francisco, referring to a question about a brain-computer interface venture. 'I would like us to.'Altman said he wants to be able to think something and have ChatGPT respond to it.Merge Labs is Altman's latest foray into the brain-computer interface field. He is facing off against his longtime rival, Elon Musk, whose company Neuralink is building brain implants with the short-term goal of treating disease and the long-term ambition of improving human abilities.OpenAI declined to comment.Brain-computer interface companies aim to build devices that connect computers to brains and augment peoples' cognition. Implants are currently enabling paralysed patients to control electronics and helping people communicate who are unable to talk. Technology billionaires and investors are also optimistic that noninvasive devices worn outside of the head could treat mental health conditions.The Financial Times reported this week that Merge is aiming to raise $250 million at an $850 million valuation. Much of that support will come from OpenAI's ventures team, according to the report. Altman is co-founding the company but not personally investing in it, according to the Financial Times.Altman has also invested in Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain implant startup. Neuralink, along with several other companies, is developing chips that communicate with the brain using electrical signals, not ultrasound.For years, researchers have been studying how to genetically change cells to make them respond to ultrasound, a field called sonogenetics . The idea Merge is considering to combine ultrasound with gene therapy could take years, some of the people said.Ultrasound has attracted significant attention recently as a possible brain therapy. Other companies are exploring the idea of using ultrasound transmitters outside the brain to massage brain tissue, with the goal of treating psychiatric conditions. That kind of technology has shown promise in research studies. Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam's company Nudge, which is aiming to build a helmet that beams low-intensity focused ultrasound into the brain, recently raised $100 million. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman is leading a $12 million funding round in a similar company.