Overview

Merge Labs represents a non-invasive approach to BCIs backed by prominent AI founders and investors. Co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania with strategic backing from OpenAI, the company has raised $250 million at an $850 million valuation despite remaining in pre-clinical development.

Technical Foundation

Merge Labs builds on research from Forest Neurotech, which pioneered non-invasive ultrasound-based neural recording. The company leverages functional ultrasound (fUS) technology to detect neural activity through hemodynamic changes, eliminating the need for surgical implantation while maintaining spatial resolution superior to EEG.

Strategic Partnerships

The collaboration with Mikhail Shapiro, a bioengineering professor at Caltech specializing in ultrasound-tissue interactions, provides foundational neurotechnology expertise. OpenAI’s backing signals interest in brain-computer interfaces as an eventual pathway for advanced AI alignment and integration.

Development Timeline

As a pre-clinical stage company, Merge Labs is currently focused on demonstrating functional decoding capability in animal models and early-stage human studies. The combination of venture capital and OpenAI support suggests accelerated development toward clinical trials within the next 2-3 years.