Sam Altman’s next startup eyes using sound waves to read your brain — and it might just change how humans connect with machines forever. The OpenAI CEO is reportedly working with top scientists to create a noninvasive brain-computer interface that uses ultrasound instead of surgery.
This marks a major step away from Elon Musk’s Neuralink model, which involves physically implanting chips into the brain. Altman’s approach could make mind-machine communication safer, simpler, and more widely accessible.
A Noninvasive Leap Beyond Neuralink
Altman’s new venture, rumored to be called Merge Labs, is bringing on Mikhail Shapiro, a leading biomolecular engineer from Caltech. Shapiro’s research focuses on using sound waves to interact with the brain — without the need for open-skull surgery.
Unlike Neuralink’s electrode-based implants, Merge Labs aims to use ultrasound and gene therapy to map and control neural activity. This would allow brain signals to be read and influenced externally, offering a safer and more scalable solution.
How Sound Waves Could Read the Human Brain
Shapiro’s pioneering work involves modifying brain cells so that they can respond to ultrasound signals. In simple terms, the process “tunes” neurons to react to sound waves, creating a real-time communication channel between the human brain and digital systems.
He explained that rather than inserting physical devices into brain tissue, it’s “easier to introduce genes into cells that make them respond to ultrasound.” This means the next generation of brain interfaces could be built around biology and sound — not hardware and surgery.
Why Altman’s Approach Could Redefine Brain-Tech
Sam Altman has been vocal about his discomfort with invasive brain implants, often contrasting his vision with Neuralink’s. By relying on sound waves instead of electrodes, Merge Labs could bypass the ethical and medical risks that come with brain surgery.
This could open up applications far beyond medical uses — including AI-human collaboration, enhanced memory, and even telepathic-style communication powered by machine learning.
Massive Investment and Research Momentum
Sources suggest Merge Labs plans to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, with backing from OpenAI and other major tech investors. Shapiro’s involvement signals that Merge is not just another startup — it’s a deep-tech bet on the future of human-AI interfaces.
Neither Shapiro nor Altman’s team has publicly commented, but the early buzz around this partnership suggests an ambitious push to commercialize neuroscience breakthroughs faster than ever before.
The Bigger Picture: From AI to the Human Mind
If successful, this project could blur the line between artificial intelligence and human cognition. With Altman already leading OpenAI’s advancements in generative AI, his next move into neural tech feels like a natural — and bold — evolution.
While details are still emerging, one thing is clear: Sam Altman’s next startup eyes using sound waves to read your brain, and it could be the foundation of a new era where thought and technology merge seamlessly.
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