By Anushka Verma
Updated: October 29, 2025
Introduction
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, one question continues to fascinate both scientists and dreamers alike: What if machines could read our thoughts?
That question may no longer be a fantasy. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and the man behind ChatGPT, is now turning his focus toward a revolutionary field — brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) — through his new venture, Merge Labs. Unlike the brain implants developed by Elon Musk’s Neuralink, Merge Labs is reportedly exploring a non-invasive approach that uses ultrasound waves and magnetic fields to decode neural activity safely, without any surgery.
Sources close to the company have revealed that Altman has teamed up with Mikhail Shapiro, a world-renowned biomolecular engineer from Caltech, and Alex Blania, the CEO of Tools for Humanity, known for their work on the Worldcoin project. Together, this trio is building a technology that could allow humans to interact with AI systems like ChatGPT — directly through their thoughts.
If successful, Merge Labs could redefine the way humans communicate, work, and even think. The company is expected to raise around $250 million in funding from OpenAI’s own venture fund, marking one of the most ambitious efforts yet to merge biology and digital intelligence.
But what exactly is Merge Labs building? How can ultrasound replace electrodes? And what could this mean for humanity’s future?
Let’s dive deep.
The Science Behind Merge Labs: Ultrasound, Magnetic Fields, and Gene Therapy
Unlike Neuralink’s invasive brain implants, which require open-skull surgery and implanting chips directly into neural tissue, Merge Labs’ technology is based on a non-invasive principle: using sound waves and electromagnetic fields to interact with the brain.
At the core of this idea is the research of Mikhail Shapiro, a professor of chemical engineering at Caltech who has spent years developing methods to visualize and influence brain activity using ultrasound. His work focuses on acoustically active biomolecules — specially engineered proteins and cells that can respond to ultrasound in real time.
In simple terms, Merge Labs wants to make brain cells that can “talk” through sound waves. Instead of inserting metal electrodes, the company may use gene therapy to modify certain brain cells so they can be “read” or “activated” using focused ultrasound beams.
This method could potentially offer the precision of Neuralink without the surgery, making it safer, more scalable, and accessible to ordinary users.
Why Ultrasound?
Ultrasound is already widely used in medical imaging — from pregnancy scans to heart examinations — because it’s safe, radiation-free, and highly precise. By adapting ultrasound for brain use, Merge Labs could detect subtle patterns in neural activity through the skull, something previously thought impossible.
In a 2024 lecture, Shapiro explained:
“It’s much easier to introduce genes into cells than to plant electrodes into the brain. If we can make neurons that naturally respond to sound waves, we can interact with the brain non-invasively.”
This vision perfectly aligns with Sam Altman’s philosophy of building human-friendly technologies that amplify intelligence rather than disrupt it.
From ChatGPT to ThoughtGPT: Altman’s Bigger Vision
Sam Altman has always looked beyond screens and keyboards. From the creation of OpenAI’s ChatGPT to Worldcoin, his ideas revolve around making humans and machines more interconnected — but ethically and intelligently.
In several public statements, Altman has expressed that he’s not interested in implanting chips inside his brain. In August 2025, he said:
“I’d like to be able to think something and have ChatGPT respond to it — maybe in a read-only way. That feels like a reasonable next step.”
That single statement encapsulates the heart of Merge Labs: to create a read-only brain interface, where AI can understand what a human is thinking, but not control it. Such a system could open possibilities for people with speech disabilities, enhance education, assist creative professionals, or even enable telepathic collaboration in virtual environments.
If realized, Merge Labs could usher in what many are calling the “thought interface era” — where thinking becomes the new typing.
Key Highlights of Merge Labs
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder / Backer | Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) |
| Collaborators | Mikhail Shapiro (Caltech), Alex Blania (Tools for Humanity) |
| Technology | Non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface (Ultrasound + Gene Therapy + Magnetic Fields) |
| Funding Target | $250 Million (OpenAI Venture Fund) |
| Objective | Enable thought-based communication with AI systems |
| Comparison | Competes with Elon Musk’s Neuralink (invasive BCI) |
| Approach | Focused on safety, scalability, and non-surgical design |
| Stage | Early Research & Team Formation |
| Ethical Vision | Transparent, consent-based data use and privacy-first neural technology |
Merge Labs vs Neuralink: A Tale of Two Philosophies
Both Neuralink and Merge Labs aim to bridge the gap between the human mind and computers — but their methods and philosophies couldn’t be more different.
| Aspect | Neuralink (Elon Musk) | Merge Labs (Sam Altman) |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Invasive (surgical brain implants) | Non-invasive (ultrasound + magnetic fields) |
| Primary Focus | Medical applications, restoring mobility | Cognitive enhancement, AI communication |
| Technology Base | Electrode arrays and microchips | Acoustic & magnetic neural imaging |
| User Safety | Requires open-skull surgery | No surgery; external sensors only |
| Philosophy | “Fix and upgrade the brain” | “Understand and collaborate with the brain” |
Altman’s path is one of biological harmony rather than mechanical integration. Instead of treating the brain as hardware, Merge Labs treats it as an organic partner — something to be read and understood, not replaced.
This philosophical difference could make all the difference in public acceptance. While Neuralink’s surgical risks and animal testing controversies have drawn criticism, Merge Labs’ gentle, gene-based approach may attract a more positive reception from scientists, regulators, and users alike.
The Role of Mikhail Shapiro: The Sound of Thought
If Sam Altman is the visionary behind Merge Labs, Mikhail Shapiro is its scientific engine.
A decorated biomolecular engineer and synthetic biologist, Shapiro has spent over a decade exploring how biological systems can communicate using sound and light. At Caltech, his lab has achieved breakthroughs in sonogenetics — a process where neurons are genetically modified to respond to ultrasound stimulation.
Shapiro’s idea is elegantly simple:
“Instead of inserting wires into the brain, let’s make brain cells that can talk through sound.”
By joining Merge Labs, Shapiro brings not just expertise but also a completely new paradigm in brain communication — one that combines molecular biology with acoustics and machine learning.
Potential Applications: Beyond Thought Control
While the initial vision of Merge Labs might sound futuristic, its applications are wide and practical:
- Medical Rehabilitation: Helping patients who have lost the ability to speak or move by allowing them to express thoughts directly.
- Education & Creativity: Enabling seamless brainstorming with AI, turning abstract ideas into structured content or art.
- Mental Health Monitoring: Detecting neural patterns related to stress, anxiety, or depression for personalized therapy.
- Productivity Enhancement: Allowing professionals to interact with computers and devices using neural intent.
- Gaming & Virtual Reality: Making full-immersion experiences possible — where thoughts shape digital environments.
If developed responsibly, Merge Labs could become the backbone of the next computing revolution — the age of neuro-intent interfaces.
The Ethics of Reading Minds
Of course, reading human thoughts brings a storm of ethical questions. Who owns your thoughts? Can neural data be hacked? Will advertisers try to access mental patterns?
Merge Labs reportedly emphasizes privacy-first design, ensuring that data remains encrypted, anonymized, and strictly user-controlled. Altman has repeatedly advocated for AI systems that respect human rights and transparency — principles he’s expected to extend into neural technology.
The company’s vision document (as reported by insiders) prioritizes:
- Full user consent
- No behavioral manipulation
- Offline processing of neural data
- No storage of raw brain signals without permission
These principles could make Merge Labs one of the few tech ventures prepared to handle the moral weight of mind-machine fusion.
Challenges on the Road Ahead
Despite the excitement, building a non-invasive BCI is no easy feat. The brain’s protective skull, the complexity of neural signals, and the limitations of ultrasound precision all pose massive scientific and engineering challenges.
Merge Labs will need to:
- Develop ultra-sensitive sensors capable of decoding thought patterns in real time.
- Ensure gene therapy safety, since introducing acoustic proteins into human cells involves genetic modification.
- Create robust AI models that can interpret the chaotic symphony of brain signals into meaningful output.
- Pass rigorous regulatory testing to ensure ethical use and user safety.
Even with $250 million in funding, experts say it could take years — possibly a decade — for such a system to reach consumers.
Industry Impact: The Race to Merge Minds and Machines
Merge Labs isn’t alone. Companies like Synchron, Kernal, and NextMind are also exploring brain-computer interfaces, each with unique methods ranging from optical sensors to electrode caps.
However, what sets Merge Labs apart is its integration with AI ecosystems like ChatGPT and GPT-5 — giving it a massive software advantage. If Merge Labs succeeds, it could transform how people interact with OpenAI’s platforms, turning them into mind-responsive assistants that understand intent at the speed of thought.
This convergence of neuroscience and AI could make Sam Altman not just the leader of the AI revolution, but also the pioneer of neural communication technology.
The Future: From Merging Data to Merging Minds
If history is any guide, every major technological leap — from the internet to smartphones — began as a far-fetched idea. Merge Labs may seem like science fiction today, but its foundation rests on credible science and visionary leadership.
As AI becomes more powerful, the way we input information into machines must evolve too. Keyboards and voice commands will one day feel as primitive as Morse code. The ultimate goal, as Altman envisions, is a natural conversation between humans and machines — thought to thought.
The day may not be far when your mind becomes your most powerful interface.
Conclusion
Sam Altman’s Merge Labs represents more than a technological experiment — it’s a philosophical statement about how humans should engage with AI. While Neuralink digs deeper into the brain, Merge Labs looks outward, asking how we can understand our minds without invading them.
By blending ultrasound science, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence, Merge Labs could open a new frontier — one where thinking becomes action, and silence becomes communication.
It’s still early days. But if Altman and Shapiro succeed, the next generation of ChatGPT might not just listen to your words — it might listen to your mind.
