Latest news with #MergeLabs
Bloomberg
17 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Sam Altman's Brain Chip Venture Is Mulling Gene Therapy Approach
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 authorized 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sam Altman To Back Merge Labs, Neuralink Rival
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)-backed OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman is gearing up to back Merge Labs, a new brain-computer interface startup that could go head-to-head with Elon Musk's Neuralink, the Financial Times reported. Merge Labs is raising about $250 million at an 850Million valuation, with a big chunk expected from OpenAI's ventures arm. Altman is not putting in personal money and will not run day-to-day. He is launching the project with Alex Blania, who leads World, and the plan is ambitious: build advanced neural implants that link human cognition with AI. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Sign with MSFT. The move adds another chapter to the Altman-Musk rivalry since Musk left OpenAI in 2018 and signals rising investor appetite for invasive neurotech. It also brings real-world hurdles. This space needs careful clinical testing, ethical guardrails and an FDA pathway before anything reaches broad use. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Is Sam Altman gearing up to take on Musk's Neuralink? Report says...
Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, is working to co-found a brain-to-computer interface startup called Merge Labs. If Merge Labs moves forward, it would mark Altman's bid to stake a claim in a field Musk has championed Musk, who left OpenAI after his failed attempt to take over the company in 2018, has long been critical of the firm. Image Credit: Reuters Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, is working to co-found a brain-to-computer interface startup called Merge Labs, according to the Financial Times. The venture is said to be seeking funding at a potential $850 million valuation, with some capital possibly coming from OpenAI's own ventures arm. Sources told TechCrunch that talks remain early and OpenAI has not committed to participating, meaning the terms could still change. Merge Labs is reportedly collaborating with Alex Blania, head of Tools for Humanity, the company behind Altman's iris-scanning digital ID project. The new company would compete directly with Elon Musk's Neuralink, which is developing brain implants to help people with severe paralysis control devices using thought alone. Neuralink, founded in 2016 and valued at $9 billion after a June fundraising round, is currently running human trials. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The concept of 'the merge'— humans integrating with technology— has long fascinated both Musk and Altman. In a 2017 blog post, Altman wrote that the merge 'has already begun' and predicted humans would become 'the first species ever to design our own descendants.' The idea predates Silicon Valley's current fixation on artificial general intelligence and ties back to earlier visions of 'the singularity.' The two tech leaders, once OpenAI co-founders, have since become open rivals. Musk left the organisation in 2018, and the relationship has soured, with the pair trading public barbs on X this week. If Merge Labs moves forward, it would mark Altman's bid to stake a claim in a field Musk has championed, and a new front in their escalating competition. Elon Musk vs Sam Altman Elon Musk and Sam Altman were once co-founders of OpenAI, but their relationship broke down after Musk left in 2018. Since then, they have become rivals, running competing AI companies: Musk's xAI and Altman's OpenAI. The feud has played out both in business and in public spats. Musk has criticised OpenAI's direction and tried to buy it back, while Altman has pushed ahead with commercial growth. This week, tensions escalated when Musk accused Apple of favouring OpenAI's ChatGPT in the App Store. Altman responded by accusing Musk of manipulating X to benefit his own ventures. Their rivalry now spans technology, influence, and personal reputation, with both positioning themselves as leaders in the race to shape the future of AI. With inputs from agencies
Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Sam Altman's $850M Merge Labs to Take on Elon Musk's Neuralink in Brain-Tech Race
Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, is preparing to enter one of the most cutting-edge arenas in technology — brain-computer interfaces — with a bold new venture called Merge Labs. According to a report from the Financial Times, the startup could be valued at an impressive $850 million and is set to become a direct competitor to Elon Musk's Neuralink, marking another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between the two tech heavyweights. Merge Labs is still in its formative stages, but insiders suggest that funding may largely come from OpenAI's ventures arm. While no agreements have been finalized, the discussions indicate strong interest in positioning the company as a leader in human-machine integration. Altman is reportedly partnering with Alex Blania, head of Tools for Humanity, the company behind the biometric ID project 'World' and its well-known eye-scanning verification orbs currently being deployed in the US and UK. With Merge Labs, Altman is stepping directly into the field Musk's Neuralink has been pioneering since 2016. Neuralink is developing implantable chips that allow people — especially those with severe paralysis — to control devices through thought alone. The company recently entered human trials and earlier this year raised $600 million, pushing its valuation to $9 billion. The potential impact of such technology is staggering, with many experts believing it could accelerate progress toward 'the singularity' — the theoretical point at which human and machine intelligence merge. Altman has been vocal about this possibility for years. In a 2017 blog post, he wrote: 'Although the merge has already begun, it's going to get a lot weirder. We will be the first species ever to design our own descendants.' At that time, Altman was still working alongside Musk at OpenAI. Musk later departed in 2018, and relations between the two have since soured. Their latest public spat erupted earlier this week when Musk accused Apple of giving OpenAI preferential treatment in App Store rankings and threatened legal action. Altman shot back, alleging Musk manipulates his social media platform, X, to promote his own interests and disadvantage rivals. The argument quickly descended into personal attacks, with both using AI chatbots to take playful — and sometimes pointed — jabs at one another. This feud is not new. Musk is currently suing Altman, OpenAI president Greg Brockman, and Microsoft, claiming they deviated from OpenAI's original non-profit mission in pursuit of commercial gains. The case is scheduled for trial in March 2026. Despite their differences, both are pushing forward with ambitious, AI-driven ventures. Musk is advancing Neuralink and his AI company xAI, while Altman appears determined to challenge him head-on in the brain-computer space. If Merge Labs gains momentum, the race between these two visionaries could redefine not only human-computer interaction but the future of intelligence itself.
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Sam Altman is building an $850 million brain-computer startup Merge Labs to rival Elon Musk's Neuralink
Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, is working on a new brain-to-computer interface company called Merge Labs, according to reports from the Financial Times. Merge Labs is reportedly still in the early stages, but the startup could be valued at around $850 million. People familiar with the matter say funding may come largely from OpenAI's ventures arm, though no final commitments have been made and terms could still change. The project is said to involve Alex Blania, who leads Tools for Humanity, a company best known for its eye-scanning device used to verify if someone is a real human. The same company, Sam Altman's biometric ID project called World, is working in the US and UK to install eye-scanning orbs in public places. advertisementMerge Labs will enter the same field as Elon Musk's Neuralink. Founded in 2016, Neuralink is developing chips that can be implanted in the brain, allowing people with severe paralysis to control devices using their thoughts. Neuralink is currently running human trials and earlier this year raised $600 million at a $9 billion companies are working on technology that could dramatically change how humans interact with machines, and some believe these developments could one day lead towards 'the singularity', the point where technology and humans merge. Altman has shown interest in this idea for years. In a 2017 blog post, he wrote: 'Although the merge has already begun, it's going to get a lot weirder. We will be the first species ever to design our own descendants.' At the time, he was still working with Musk at OpenAI. Musk left the organisation in 2018 and relations between the two have since broken rivalry has been especially public this week. It began when Musk accused Apple of favouring OpenAI in its App Store rankings and threatened legal action. Altman responded by suggesting Musk manipulates his social media platform, X, to benefit himself and harm rivals. The exchange quickly escalated into personal insults, with both using their own AI chatbots to mock each isn't the first time the two have clashed. Musk is currently suing Altman, OpenAI president Greg Brockman, and Microsoft, claiming they abandoned OpenAI's original non-profit mission in favour of commercial gain. The case is set for trial in March the heated words, both are pushing forward with ambitious AI-linked ventures. Musk continues to promote Neuralink and his AI company xAI, while Altman appears determined to challenge him in the brain-computer space. - EndsMust Watch
