TECH NEWS – Merge Labs would effectively push toward “cyborg” territory, entering a head-to-head race with Elon Musk’s Neuralink.

As the AI race heats up, tech rivalry has turned personal — with Sam Altman (OpenAI) and Elon Musk (X/Twitter) trading barbs again this week. Meanwhile, a new development around Altman: a startup called Merge Labs is taking shape to build brain–computer interfaces (BCIs), making it a direct challenger to Neuralink. The company is being co-founded with Alex Blania of Worldcoin/Tools for Humanity.

According to multiple reports, Merge Labs aims to develop high-bandwidth BCIs while focusing — unlike Neuralink’s invasive implants — on less-invasive, more widely scalable approaches. The goal is to move beyond purely medical use and deliver faster, more responsive human–machine links. The startup is reportedly valued around $850 million and is targeting a further $250 million raise, with a significant portion expected from OpenAI’s venture arm.

While Altman helped found the company, he is said to be hands-off operationally, focusing instead on his long-standing vision of merging human cognition with AI — an idea he articulated back in 2017, even hinting at progress by 2025.

Neuralink, however, has a lead: it is already in human trials and, in 2025, secured a valuation near $9 billion after raising hundreds of millions. Its first patient has controlled a cursor by thought, a major clinical milestone. That sets the stage for a broader BCI race alongside the ongoing AI competition.

For Merge Labs, a cautious, responsible approach will be essential. Innovations in this space raise ethical, privacy, and access questions; real success depends not only on breakthroughs but also on societal acceptance and regulation.

Source: Financial Times, WCCFTech