OpenAI Invests in Startup That Uses Brain Implants to Detect Cancer
wired ·
OpenAI’s venture capital arm and Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund have invested in Coherence Neuro, a startup developing brain implants to detect and treat cancer. This $45 million seed round highlights the growing interest of major AI companies in brain-computer interface data. Coherence is creating AI models to decode electrical signals associated with brain tumors, aiming to halt cancer growth through mild electrical stimulation. While OpenAI previously invested in Merge Labs with plans for data collaboration, it has stated that Coherence will retain full ownership of its health data. The company recently conducted brief safety tests on human patients and plans to launch long-term clinical trials for glioblastoma treatment. This strategy differs from other BCI ventures like Neuralink, as Coherence focuses on therapeutic applications rather than restoring motor function. The investment underscores the perceived synergy between large AI labs and hardware developers seeking novel data sources.
wired