Sam Altman is reportedly working on a new startup called Merge Labs. The company's goal is to create technology that connects the human brain directly to computers using implants. This would allow people to control devices with just their thoughts.
This project puts Altman in direct competition with Elon Musk, who has his own brain-chip company, Neuralink. Neuralink has already made headlines by successfully implanting chips in people with paralysis, enabling them to control computers and smartphones with their minds. The company recently raised $600 million, bringing its total value to about $9 billion.
According to reports, a portion of the funding for Merge Labs may come from OpenAI itself. Altman has previously written about a concept he calls "The Merge," where he discusses how this kind of technology could fundamentally change human life and allow people to "create their own evolution." This new startup seems to be a step towards making that vision a reality.
While there's been no official announcement from Merge Labs or OpenAI yet, it's clear that the rivalry between Sam Altman and Elon Musk is now extending beyond artificial intelligence and into the field of brain-computer interfaces.
