Sam Altman, executive director of OpenAIhas decided to extend its influence beyond the artificial intelligence to enter the terrain of neurotechnology with his new project, Merge Labs.
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The company seeks to raise 250 million dollars to develop a brain-computer interface (BCI) that promises to transform human-machine interaction.
The initiative, which has the direct support of OpenAIpoints to a non-invasive model, in contrast to the surgical approach of Neurablethe company Elon Musk.
The technological approach of Merge Labs It is based on the use of ultrasound to read brain activity, avoiding implants or surgical procedures, according to agencies.
According to its founders, this technique not only reduces clinical risks, but also development and adoption costs, key factors in turning neurotechnology into a scalable business.
Merge Labs’ earnings with OpenAI
In economic terms, the company is already valued at 850 million dollarsdespite being in an initial financing phase; however, Altman has clarified that it will not contribute its own capital or participate in operational management, which leaves the company’s strategic direction on hold while it seeks to complete its investment round.
To strengthen the scientific foundation of the project, Altman brought in Mikhail Shapiro, a renowned biomolecular engineer specializing in non-invasive techniques.
His research combines gene therapy and ultrasound, making certain neurons visible and receptive to waves, which would allow thoughts and neuronal patterns to be interpreted without physical contact.
“I would like to be able to think of something and have ChatGPT respond,” said Altman, describing his vision of direct mental interaction with AI.
Merge Labs and its ecosystem
The ecosystem of Merge Labs It will also integrate the experience of Alex Blania, director of Worldcoin, another of Altman’s technological projects.
Officially launched in July 2023, Worldcoin seeks to create a global digital identity based on iris scanning, combining blockchain and biometric verification.
As of November 2, 2025, the project has surpassed 190 countries with registered users and more than 10 million iris scans performed, according to official data published on the website of Worldcoin (worldcoin.org) and reports of Bloomberg y CoinDesk.
Despite criticism over privacy and data protection, Worldcoin’s expansion has strengthened Altman’s symbolic and financial capital as a central figure of the digital future.
From an economic point of view, Merge Labs It is emerging as a high-risk bet, but with multimillion-dollar market potential. Combining neuroscience, artificial intelligence and data processing could open up new industries, from cognitive health to advanced automation.
If you can realize your vision, Altman It would not only be redefining the limits of human-machine interaction, but also creating a new economic axis based on mental integration with AI.
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In this context, Merge Labs is a technology company that represents the ambition of turning the human mind into the next economic interface of the 21st century. A step that, if carried out, would mark the beginning of a new era where thought, literally, becomes capital.