OpenAI’s Altman to Reportedly Support Neuralink Competitor Startup

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is reportedly preparing to support a startup that aims to rival Elon Musk’s Neuralink in the emerging neurotechnology sector. Neuralink has gained attention for its brain–computer interface implants, designed to link human thought with machines. Altman’s potential involvement signals growing competition in this cutting-edge field, where advancements in AI and neuroscience are converging to reshape healthcare, human-computer interaction, and the future of cognitive technology.

According to unnamed insiders speaking to the Financial Times, Sam Altman is reportedly co-founding a new company called Merge Labs, which will focus on developing brain–computer interface technology. The venture is also said to be raising capital, with much of the funding potentially coming from OpenAI’s investment arm.

The company could be valued at around $850 million, though sources told TechCrunch that negotiations are still in the early stages. OpenAI has not officially committed to participating, meaning the structure of the deal could still shift. Reports also suggest that Altman is collaborating with Alex Blania, the head of Tools for Humanity, a firm best known for its Worldcoin project. That initiative promotes a digital identification system based on eye scans to verify whether an individual is human.

Merge Labs would be entering a competitive space already occupied by Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Neuralink is building implantable chips that allow direct communication between the brain and external devices. Founded in 2016, though kept under wraps until the following year, the company has made significant advances in this field. Neuralink is currently conducting human trials with patients who suffer from serious forms of paralysis. The aim of the technology is to help them operate computers and other devices using only their thoughts. Earlier this year, Neuralink secured $600 million in Series E funding, giving it an estimated market value of $9 billion.

Both Neuralink and Altman’s new venture hold the potential to transform the way humans connect with technology. Some observers believe these innovations could represent a step toward what is often described as “the singularity.” Before Silicon Valley’s fascination with artificial general intelligence (AGI), the concept of the singularity had already captured the imagination of technologists. Musk has used the phrase to describe a point where artificial intelligence surpasses human intellect. In its earlier definition, taken from a 1960s novella by Dino Buzzati, the singularity refers to the blending of humans with machines.

Altman himself has written about this idea. In a 2017 blog post titled The Merge, he speculated that humanity was already beginning this process and that it would only grow stranger with time. He suggested that people could eventually design their own descendants, drawing on research he had witnessed while at OpenAI, where Musk was still a co-founder at the time.

Musk eventually left OpenAI in 2018, and his relationship with Altman has deteriorated since then. Their rivalry resurfaced recently on X, with Altman accusing Musk of manipulating the platform, and Musk responding by calling Altman dishonest. It remains uncertain when Merge Labs will be formally introduced, but given the high stakes, many believe Altman is unlikely to let Musk pursue such a monumental vision without offering direct competition.

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Source: techcrunch‍