Sam Altman is reportedly launching a rival brain-chip startup to compete with Musk's Neuralink

Sam Altman launches brain-chip startup to rival Musk's Neuralink at a $850M value.

: Sam Altman is co-founding a brain-chip startup, Merge Labs, aiming to rival Elon Musk's Neuralink by leveraging AI in brain-computer interfaces. The new company's mission is to enhance human-device interaction using implanted electrodes to interpret neural signals. Merge Labs is expected to have a valuation of $850 million, primarily financed by OpenAI's Startup Fund. Altman, while instrumental in founding, will not partake in the daily operations of the company.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is reportedly embarking on a new endeavor by launching a brain-chip startup named Merge Labs, designed to directly compete with Elon Musk's Neuralink. The startup will focus on developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which employ the use of small electrodes to capture neural signals, enabling humans to control devices via thought. This maneuver comes amidst the backdrop of an ongoing rivalry between Altman and Musk, both co-founders of OpenAI, a relationship which turned contentious following Musk's departure in 2018.

Allegedly, Merge Labs is in the process of securing funding at an estimated valuation of $850 million. A substantial portion of this financial support is predicted to be provided by OpenAI's Startup Fund, according to a Business Standard report. Co-founding the initiative alongside Altman is Alex Blania, the head of World ID, a digital identity company that also receives support from OpenAI. Altman's role at Merge Labs will be limited primarily to strategic oversight rather than the handling of everyday business operations.

This emerging business is primed to rival Neuralink, a company established by Musk in 2016, which has received regulatory endorsements to conduct clinical trials across several countries. Neuralink's technology has notably been implanted in multiple patients, including those suffering from spinal cord injuries and ALS, aiming to restore lost capabilities such as speech or sight. Additionally, the company holds breakthrough device designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for aiding individuals with communication and vision deficits.

The announcement of Merge Labs aligns with Altman's prediction of 'the merge,' a concept suggesting an imminent convergence of human and machine intelligence. In a previous discussion on his blog, Altman outlined 'the merge' as an evolutionary transition towards intertwining human cognition with digital algorithms, suggesting such a transformation could manifest anywhere between 2025 and 2075. He likened early indicators of this merger to social media's influence on thought and emotional processes.

As of now, OpenAI has not provided any statements regarding Altman's latest initiative. However, both Altman and Musk's continuous rivalry in AI innovation persists, recently heightening due to disagreements concerning OpenAI's collaborations with tech giants like Apple. The conflict of interests extends to Musk's other ventures, such as xAI, and legal challenges targeting the structuring of OpenAI as a profit-driven entity.

Sources: Gizmodo, Financial Times

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