The feud between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Elon Musk seems to be heating up with each passing day. While the race to be the AI leader brings interesting scenarios on X (formerly Twitter), Altman seems to be challenging Elon Musk’s dominance in another sector. The OpenAI CEO is in the process of co-founding a new brain-to-computer interface startup called Merge Labs – a company that could challenge Neuralink.
For those who need a refresher, Neuralink is Elon Musk’s Brain Computer Interface (BCI) firm that has successfully implanted computer chips in the human brain and is doing trials.
Altman is a co-founder and is actively raising funds for the company. The primary source of capital is expected to come from OpenAI’s ventures division, although a source tells TechCrunch that talks are still in early stages and no final commitment has been made. Hence, the chance of this becoming a reality is quite low.
The new company is also reportedly working with Alex Blania, a key figure behind Altman’s digital ID project, Tools for Humanity.
Merge Labs to take on Neuralink?
Merge Labs will enter the competitive BCI space, a field currently dominated by Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Founded in 2016, Neuralink has made significant strides, with its chips currently in clinical trials for severely paralyzed individuals, allowing them to control digital devices with their thoughts.
The concept of merging human consciousness with technology, often referred to as “the singularity,” has long been a fascination for both Altman and Musk. Altman himself wrote a blog post in 2017 about “The Merge,” where he speculated that humans would “be the first species ever to design our own descendants.”
Will Musk vs Altman heat up after Merge Labs?
The move to directly compete with Neuralink comes amidst a deteriorating relationship between Altman and Musk. The two co-founded OpenAI together, but Musk departed in 2018. Their rivalry has become more public in recent times, with a recent spat on X (formerly Twitter) highlighting their strained relationship.
What remains to be seen is how Altman’s take on BCI affects the industry, which has so far had Neuralink as the only example. Altman’s expertise in the field of generative AI could open up new avenues for Merge Labs.