Altman Recruits Caltech Scientist for Noninvasive BCI

Sam Altman has recruited Mikhail Shapiro, a Caltech biomolecular engineer known for noninvasive neural-imaging work, to join Merge Labs — the brain-computer interface (BCI) startup Altman is launching with Alex Blania. Sources say Shapiro will be part of Merge’s founding team and a key technical leader in investor talks. Merge reportedly expects to raise “hundreds of millions” from OpenAI and others, per an earlier Financial Times report.

Shapiro’s research points the company toward a very different approach than implantable devices like Neuralink: his lab has explored using ultrasound (sound waves) and magnetic fields to interact with neurons, and gene-therapy methods to make cells visible or responsive to ultrasound. In a recent talk he argued it’s “easier to introduce genes into cells” that then respond to ultrasound, calling his work a mission to build “ways to interface with neurons…that would be less invasive.” Bloomberg has similarly reported Merge is eyeing gene‑based, ultrasound-driven techniques for an initial product.

Altman has publicly expressed discomfort with invasive implants and said he prefers “read‑only” or non‑destructive interfaces. When Merge Labs is announced, Altman is expected to serve as chair while day‑to‑day leadership comes from cofounders like Blania and technical leads such as Shapiro.