OpenAI Invests in Startup That Uses Brain Implants to Detect Cancer

· Business

OpenAI Invests in Startup That Uses Brain Implants to Detect Cancer

OpenAI and Thiel's fund invest $45 million in Coherence Neuro, developing brain implants to detect and treat cancer.

OpenAI and Thiel's fund back $45M brain implant startup for cancer detection.

OpenAI's venture capital arm and Peter Thiel's Founders Fund are investing in Coherence Neuro, a San Francisco-based startup developing brain implants designed to detect and treat cancer, as part of a $45 million seed funding round. This investment reflects Big Tech's burgeoning interest in brain data and brain-computer interfaces.

Coherence's approach focuses on using AI models to decode subtle electrical signals associated with brain tumors. The company has demonstrated the ability to detect these signals in animals to determine whether cancer is growing, shrinking, or recurring. This summer, Coherence tested its implant in three patients already undergoing brain tumor removal surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, providing an initial safety check.

Rather than focusing on restoring function for paralyzed individuals, Coherence is developing a device that emits mild electrical stimulation to halt tumor growth. The implant is designed to learn over time to detect cancer signals and provide real-time treatment. The company plans to use the new funding to launch a clinical trial for long-term implantation in glioblastoma patients.

Coherence CEO Ben Woodington emphasizes the synergy between AI labs and brain-computer interface developers, noting that AI is a perfect use case because the massive datasets generated are too large for humans to analyze alone. AI models can help read raw neural data and link it to actions like cursor movement or synthesized speech.

Coherence's commitment to data privacy is notable: OpenAI will not have access to any brain or health data generated by the device, a distinction from OpenAI's collaboration with its other brain-interface investment, Merge Labs, where scientific collaboration is planned.

OpenAI backs brain implant cancer detection startup, reflecting AI industry's strategic pivot toward brain-computer interface data.

Source: WIRED

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