OpenAI Invests in Merge Labs: Investment in Brain-Computer Interfaces

On January 15, 2026, OpenAI announced its participation in the seed funding round of Merge Labs — a startup focused on developing brain-computer interfaces (BCI). Merge Labs, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, raised approximately $250–$252 million at an estimated $850 million valuation. The company aims to develop safe, high-bandwidth BCI technologies that avoid invasive surgical implants by using molecules and ultrasound to connect with neurons and process neural signals. OpenAI will collaborate with Merge Labs on scientific foundation models and AI tooling to interpret neural data and accelerate research in neuroscience and bioengineering.

Source: OpenAI, TechCrunch, Dataconomy