The future of the brain and AI just received a major boost. Merge Labs, a new deep‑tech lab combining ultrasound neurotechnology, molecular biology, and artificial intelligence, has emerged from stealth with a $252M seed round led by OpenAI. This marks one of the most significant milestones in the development of non‑invasive BCI — technology that could enable brain‑to‑AI communication without surgery.
If you’ve ever wondered whether AI can read thoughts, this is the first serious step in that direction.
Merge Labs is developing a system that enables reading neural activity through the intact skull, without implants. Unlike Neuralink, which relies on electrodes, Merge Labs uses:
functional ultrasound (fUS)
molecular sonogenetic markers
AI models for signal decoding
This approach allows deeper and more precise brain imaging than EEG, without surgical risk.
If you’re looking for ultrasound neurotechnology explained simply, here’s the essence:
ultrasound measures blood‑flow changes linked to neural activity
molecular markers make specific neurons visible to ultrasound
AI decodes the signals and turns them into interpretable patterns
It’s a completely new BCI paradigm.
fUS enables:
hemodynamic brain readout
modulation of neural circuits
operation through the skull
a wide field of view
This is the foundation of mind‑reading technology without implants.
Acoustic reporter genes allow:
selective labeling of neurons
activation via ultrasound
precise modulation of neural networks
AI foundation models enable:
decoding noisy neural signals
boosting communication bandwidth
stable human–AI interaction
| Neuralink | Merge Labs |
|---|---|
| invasive implants | non‑invasive ultrasound |
| electrodes | molecules + ultrasound |
| surgery required | no surgery |
| medical focus | medical + consumer potential |
2027–2028: early lab prototypes
2030+: functional thought‑to‑AI systems
2032+: consumer version (depending on regulation)
If AI can read neural signals, key questions arise:
who controls the data
whether misuse is possible
Even though ultrasound is non‑invasive, we must confirm:
long‑term safety
stability of molecular markers
absence of side effects
BCI could create a new form of inequality:
who gets access
who controls the technology
how manipulation is prevented
How do we balance innovation with responsibility read article.
The EU AI Act and future neuro‑rights laws may slow consumer deployment.
Merge Labs represents the most advanced attempt so far to combine:
ultrasound neurotechnology
molecular biology
If successful, this could unlock:
therapies for neurological disorders
assistive technologies
cognitive enhancement
The future of the brain and AI is no longer science fiction. As the boundary between biology and computation continues to blur, the question is no longer whether non‑invasive BCI will reshape human–AI interaction, but how quickly we’ll adapt to it.
The next decade will redefine technology and will likely redefine what it means to think, communicate, and extend the human mind.