OpenAI CEO Sam Altman may soon enter brain-computer interface field to compete with Elon Musk’s Neuralink

Sam Altman is reportedly preparing to launch his brain-computer interface (BCI) startup called Merge Labs. To this end, the OpenAI CEO has brought on Mikhail Shapiro, an award-winning biomolecular engineer, to join the founding team. Shapiro, whose exact title remains unclear, is positioned as a key leader in the company’s ongoing talks with investors. Merge Labs, which Altman co-founded with Alex Blania, is expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars from OpenAI and other investors. Shapiro’s expertise signals Merge Labs’ technical direction, which may compete with Elon Musk’s Neuralink. His engineering lab at Caltech has focused on non-invasive techniques for neural imaging and control, specifically using ultrasound to interact with the brain without requiring open-skull surgery.