Sam Altman’s Merge Labs Raises $250M With Backing From OpenAI
OpenAI has invested in Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface startup founded by CEO Sam Altman, as part of a $250 million seed round valuing the company at $850 million.
Big Data refers to extremely large and complex datasets that are difficult to manage, process, and analyze using traditional data tools. It encompasses information collected from diverse sources such as social media, sensors, mobile devices, and online transactions, often generated in real time. In artificial intelligence, Big Data serves as the foundation for training machine learning models, improving accuracy, and uncovering insights that drive smarter decisions. The concept is typically defined by the “three Vs”: volume, velocity, and variety – representing the size, speed, and diversity of data. Modern AI systems rely on Big Data technologies and frameworks like Hadoop and Spark to store, process, and interpret this vast information efficiently.
OpenAI has invested in Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface startup founded by CEO Sam Altman, as part of a $250 million seed round valuing the company at $850 million.
Barclays Research says humanoid robots are moving from experimental labs into real-world deployment as advances in AI and hardware reduce costs. The firm estimates the market could expand sharply over the next decade amid labor shortages.
U.S. senators are demanding detailed explanations from major tech platforms on how they prevent and monetize AI-generated sexual deepfakes. The inquiry follows renewed scrutiny of generative AI tools and their safeguards.
Google has launched a beta feature that allows Gemini to connect directly with user apps like Gmail and Photos for more personalized responses. The update aims to make Gemini more proactive while keeping privacy controls in user hands.
Anthropic has expanded its Labs organization to incubate experimental products built on emerging Claude capabilities. The move formalizes a product development model that has already produced several fast-scaling AI tools.
Microsoft outlined a community-first strategy for expanding AI data centers, promising to cover electricity costs and reduce local environmental impact. The move comes amid rising public opposition to large-scale AI infrastructure projects.
Apple introduced Apple Creator Studio, a subscription bundle combining professional creative apps with new AI-driven features across video, music, imaging, and productivity tools. The offering expands Apple’s push into intelligent software workflows for creators.
Meta has introduced a new top-level initiative, Meta Compute, to expand its AI infrastructure and energy capacity at large scale. The effort signals a long-term push to support advanced AI development and global data center growth.
Anthropic’s Claude now offers healthcare and life sciences AI tools, including HIPAA-compliant connectors and support for clinical trials, regulatory, and research tasks.
Apple will rely on Google’s Gemini models and cloud infrastructure to power future artificial intelligence features, including Siri. The multi-year partnership supports Apple’s next generation of foundation models.