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'brain implants'

Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival

SUMMARY

OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman is backing a new company called Merge Labs, which plans to compete with Elon Musk’s Neuralink by connecting human brains to computers. Merge Labs is seeking $250 million in funding and is currently valued at $850 million. Altman will co-found but won’t take a daily role; Alex Blania will lead the project.

The venture aims to capitalize on advancements in artificial intelligence. Altman has discussed the potential for "high-bandwidth brain-computer interfaces" to emerge soon. This competition intensifies the rivalry between Altman and Musk, who co-founded OpenAI. Musk's Neuralink has raised significant capital and leads the industry.


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