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Ultrasound and molecular BCIMerge Labs—

Ultrasound and molecular BCI

by Merge LabsUS

ResearchStage 1 of 5

Early research; no device or human data shared.

Updated 15 Jan 2026Checked 25 Sep0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Early lab proof of concept
  1. Early lab proof of conceptNowCurrent milestone.

Most important updates

  • 15 Jan 2026

Current obstacles

  • Getting new genes into brain cellsThe molecule approach needs engineered genes put into human brain cells, itself a big safety and delivery challenge.

Physics limits

  • New genes have to get into brain cellsEngineered molecules need gene delivery. Carriers that cross the blood-brain barrier and reach enough neurons evenly, safely and for years in people don't exist yet at scale.
  • Bone blocks and blurs ultrasoundThe skull absorbs and scatters high-frequency sound. Detailed ultrasound images of human brain activity have so far needed a skull opening or an acoustically clear window.
  • Molecular signals are slowToday's sound-sensitive reporters and blood-flow signals change over seconds, while speech and movement unfold over milliseconds.

How it works

3 parts
A medical ultrasound probe: rows of tiny transducers send sound into tissue and read the echoes, the tool Merge pairs with sound-sensitive molecules
A medical ultrasound probe: rows of tiny transducers send sound into tissue and read the echoes, the tool Merge pairs with sound-sensitive moleculesPhoto: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0 (opens commons.wikimedia.org)
Molecules

Make neurons speak to sound

Gene delivery would give neurons proteins that change how they reflect or respond to ultrasound, instead of placing electrodes.

Ultrasound

Read and write through tissue

Ultrasound passes through tissue to large brain areas, to read those molecular signals and to nudge activity.

AI

Decode at scale

AI models would turn the resulting signals into intent, aiming at far more brain coverage than today's implants.

Update log

1 update

Thu 15 Jan

  • Major: PressFunding

About Merge Labs

The team behind Ultrasound and molecular BCI

Merge Labs

No-implant ultrasound brain interface

Brain-interface startup co-founded by Sam Altman, Alex Blania and Sandro Herbig of Tools for Humanity, Forest Neurotech's Tyson Aflalo and Sumner Norman, and Caltech's Mikhail Shapiro. It explores ultrasound and molecules to talk to brain cells without implants.

Company profile →

Founded
20251 yrs
Headquarters
United States
Status
Private
Valuation
$850MprivateJan 2026
Raised
$250M1 round
Last round
Seed · $250MJan 2026$850M post
Works in
NeurotechNon-invasiveAI
Coverage
1 program · 1 updatelatest 15 Jan 2026checked 25 Sep
Lead investors
OpenAI
Partners
Forest Neurotech
Investors
OpenAI
People
Sam Altman (opens en.wikipedia.org)Co-founderMikhail Shapiro (opens shapirolab.caltech.edu)Co-founder
Primer