AI Applied: Covering AI News, Interviews and Tools - ChatGPT, Midjourney, Gemini, OpenAI, Anthropic Merge Labs: OpenAI's Bold Investment in Brain Tech
Jan 20, 2026
Explore the cutting-edge world of brain-computer interfaces as Conor and Jaeden discuss OpenAI's investment in Merge Labs. They analyze the competition between Merge Labs and Neuralink, highlighting therapeutic benefits and ethical dilemmas. The conversation dives into the strategic motivations behind such technologies and personal anecdotes about tech moguls like Sam Altman. With a mix of fascination and caution, they speculate on the future of human-AI integration and its philosophical implications.
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High-Stakes Internal Investment
- Merge Labs is presented as a high-profile brain-computer startup with large internal investment links to OpenAI.
- The hosts highlight circular funding concerns and the unusual founder-investor dynamics around Sam Altman.
Podcast Disappeared Without Explanation
- Jaeden recounts creating many fan podcasts and a strange disappearance of his Sam Altman fan podcast from Spotify.
- He frames the removal as an unexplained event and jokes about conspiracy around Sam Altman.
Creepiness Versus Medical Benefit
- Neuralink initially felt creepy because it directly interfaces with the brain, prompting ethical unease.
- The hosts then acknowledge life-changing medical benefits for disabled people, reframing the technology's value.