Imagine steering a device with just a thought. This idea, once purely science fiction, is quickly becoming a reality. The path to merging human minds with machines is taking shape, led by some of the biggest names in tech.
Tech giants Elon Musk and Sam Altman often find themselves on opposing sides. Their companies, Neuralink and OpenAI, have a long history of intense competition. This rivalry has sometimes spilled into public drama. Now, this familiar competition is moving into a new, fascinating area: Brain-Computer Interface technology.
Brain-Computer Interface, or BCI, is the idea of linking our minds directly to computers. The main goal is simple: to let humans control various devices using only their thoughts. Early BCI systems often used hardware like head-mounted sensors. But the new approaches, like those from Merge Labs and Neuralink, involve tiny chips. These chips are designed to be placed right inside the brain. They work by sensing electrical signals from brain waves, then sending commands to external devices.
According to a report from the Financial Times, Altman and OpenAI are now backing a new company called Merge Labs. This startup is developing its own “brain-implanted chip.” This immediately puts Merge Labs in direct competition with Neuralink. Neuralink, a neurotechnology company, was founded by Elon Musk back in 2016. It has been making steady progress. In mid-2025, some of Neuralink’s devices received approval from the US FDA.
This isn’t a sudden new interest for Sam Altman. He has been thinking about the blending of humans and machines for a while. He wrote about this concept in his personal blog back in 2017. He also connected this idea clearly to the work at OpenAI. Altman once stated, “Merging can happen in many forms. We might insert electrodes into the brain, or we might become close friends with a chatbot. But I think merging might be the best situation for us.”
Even with some current limits in artificial intelligence, technology keeps moving forward. The possibility of connecting our brains to computers seems increasingly real. When that day arrives, we will certainly have to ask ourselves: What will the future of humanity truly look like?