As the AI competition heats up, personal rivalries emerge between tech leaders, particularly between OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman and X’s CEO Elon Musk. Altman is intensifying his influence by launching Merge Labs, a startup focused on brain–computer interfaces (BCIs), positioning it as a direct competitor to Musk’s Neuralink. Co-founded with Alex Blania of Worldcoin, Merge Labs aims for scalable, less invasive BCI solutions, deviating from typical medical applications to enhance human cognition.
The startup, valued at approximately $850 million, seeks an additional $250 million in funding, primarily from OpenAI’s venture arm. While Altman won’t manage daily operations, he aims to realize his vision of human-machine integration by 2025. In contrast, Neuralink is ahead, with ongoing human trials and a valuation of $9 billion. The escalating rivalry between Altman and Musk signals not just an AI break, but a significant stride in BCI development, raising ethical considerations in innovative technology.
