Altman and Musk in New Dispute Over Brain Chips
brussel, dinsdag, 19 augustus 2025.
Tech rivals Sam Altman and Elon Musk are at odds once again, this time in a dispute over brain chips. Altman has launched Merge Labs as a direct competitor to Musk’s Neuralink. The rivalry has both technological and ethical implications for the future of the human brain, with both parties striving for innovative brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
Tech Rivals in New Dispute Over Brain Chips
Tech rivals Sam Altman and Elon Musk are at odds once again, this time in a dispute over brain chips. Altman has launched Merge Labs as a direct competitor to Musk’s Neuralink. The rivalry has both technological and ethical implications for the future of the human brain, with both parties striving for innovative brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
Sam Altman and Merge Labs
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has launched Merge Labs, a startup focused on developing less invasive brain chips. Merge Labs has an estimated valuation of $850 million and is seeking a capital injection of $250 million. The company is led by Alexander Blania, known for the controversial Worldcoin project. Merge Labs plans to experiment with methods that are less invasive than the deep brain electrodes used by Neuralink.
Elon Musk and Neuralink
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been working on developing brain chips with Neuralink for some time. Neuralink’s technology focuses on placing microscopic electrodes in the brain to translate brain signals into digital commands. This could help patients with paralysis communicate or move a robotic arm with their thoughts. Musk has described Neuralink as a ‘literal brain-computer interface’ that can connect human brains with computers.
Technological and Ethical Implications
The rivalry between Altman and Musk goes beyond mere technological innovation. There are also serious ethical implications associated with the use of brain chips. Issues surrounding privacy, security, and the potential misuse of this technology play a crucial role in the debate. Both parties must focus on developing safe and ethically responsible methods to connect the human brain with computers.
Former Allies, New Enemies
Sam Altman and Elon Musk were once allies in the world of artificial intelligence. They co-founded OpenAI in 2015 to counter Google DeepMind. However, Musk left OpenAI in 2018 due to disagreements over commercial deals with Microsoft. Since then, the two tech magnates have been engaged in a continuous feud, involving personal attacks, social media exchanges, and lawsuits.
Competition and Collaboration
In addition to their rivalry in the field of brain chips, Altman and Musk are also competitors in other sectors. Altman is developing a social networking arm for OpenAI to compete with Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), which has approximately 600 million monthly users. Tesla’s vehicle sales dropped by 13.5% in the second quarter of 2025, leading Musk to focus on self-driving taxis. Altman is also a minor investor in Neuralink, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.