ChatGPT Was Just The Beginning, Sam Altman Wants to Read Your Mind Now

Sam Altman has already changed how the world talks to machines. Now, he’s setting out to change how machines talk to us — literally, through our thoughts.

The OpenAI CEO, who turned ChatGPT into a global phenomenon and sparked an AI revolution, is now venturing into something that sounds straight out of a science fiction novel: decoding the human brain. Reports reveal that Altman is backing a secretive new venture called Merge Labs, which is developing a non-invasive brain–computer interface (BCI) capable of reading human thoughts — without surgery, implants, or wires.

If that sounds like a direct challenge to Elon Musk’s Neuralink, it’s because it is. But Altman’s approach is entirely different. While Neuralink drills into the brain to implant electrodes, Merge Labs wants to achieve the same goal — connecting the mind with machines — through sound waves and magnetic fields, all from outside the skull.

Sam Altman's New Bet 

At the heart of Merge Labs’ vision lies a profound question: Can we understand the human brain without touching it?

The company’s strategy blends ultrasound technology with genetic engineering, exploring ways to let machines interpret human thoughts safely and painlessly. The technology could, one day, allow a person to simply think a thought — and have an AI respond, understand, or even act on it.

This isn’t just ambitious; it’s a reimagination of how humans might interface with artificial intelligence.

According to The Verge, Altman has assembled a world-class team to bring this to life, led by some of the most brilliant minds in neuroscience and bioengineering. Among them is Mikhail Shapiro, a Caltech biomolecular engineer known for pioneering ultrasound-based interaction with the brain. Shapiro’s past work involves using sound waves to influence neurons and even employing gene therapy to make brain cells react to ultrasound signals. In other words, he’s already been building the foundation for what Merge Labs is now attempting.

The Minds Behind Merge

While much about Merge Labs remains behind closed doors, insiders say Shapiro is expected to play a pivotal role — likely as a founding member, guiding both the scientific direction and investor strategy.

Also joining the initiative is Alex Blania, CEO of Tools for Humanity (formerly Worldcoin), another Altman-backed project that explored digital identity using biometric verification. Together, they represent a merging of two worlds: neuroscience and next-gen AI.

Altman himself, despite his leadership at OpenAI, is reportedly taking a hands-off approach to day-to-day operations at Merge Labs. However, he’s expected to be listed as a co-founder, with the company planning to raise a staggering $250 million (around ₹2,195 crore) through OpenAI’s venture arm.

From “No Chips” to “Read-Only” AI

Altman’s fascination with the human brain isn’t new. But he’s long been wary of invasive approaches. Back in August, he joked that having a chip implanted in his brain would “kill his neurons.” And yet, in the same breath, he admitted how incredible it would be to “think something and have ChatGPT respond.”

That’s precisely what Merge Labs seems to be building toward — a “read-only” interface between humans and AI. Unlike Neuralink’s two-way system that can both read and stimulate the brain, Merge Labs’ focus, at least for now, is one-directional: to interpret, not influence.

This subtle distinction could make all the difference. It hints at a future where AI might understand human thought without crossing ethical boundaries or tampering with free will.

Sound Waves Over Surgery

The use of ultrasound and magnetic fields could be the defining leap for BCIs. Traditional methods, like Neuralink’s implants, require invasive procedures, posing risks like infections and neural damage. Merge Labs’ approach, however, could make brain–computer communication accessible to millions without medical complications.

Imagine wearing a headset that reads your neural patterns through sound waves, translating your thoughts into digital signals — seamlessly, safely, and instantly. The implications stretch far beyond AI conversations: it could transform healthcare, accessibility for people with disabilities, and even the way humans learn or create.

The Future Altman Envisions

For Sam Altman, this isn’t just another tech bet. It’s a continuation of his pursuit to merge intelligence — human and artificial — in ways that expand our capabilities without diminishing our humanity.

With OpenAI, he gave people a way to talk to machines. With Merge Labs, he might give machines a way to listen — not to our words, but to our thoughts.

While many details remain cloaked in secrecy, the mission is clear: to bridge the gap between mind and machine without ever lifting a scalpel.

If Merge Labs succeeds, the future might not involve us typing prompts into ChatGPT at all. We might just think them — and the AI will know exactly what we mean.

In a world racing toward AI integration, Sam Altman’s Merge Labs could redefine what it means to “interface” with technology — where the mind itself becomes the ultimate input device.