OpenAI's startup fund invests in Coherence, a company building brain implants that use AI to detect and treat cancer

What happened

OpenAI has invested in Coherence, a San Francisco startup developing brain implants that use artificial intelligence to detect cancer, Wired reported. The investment is part of a $45 million seed funding round for the company.

According to Wired, the deal reflects growing interest from large technology companies in brain data. Coherence CEO and cofounder Ben Woodington told the outlet there is "growing synergy" between major AI labs and companies building brain-computer interfaces, which are devices designed to decode signals from the brain.

How the Coherence implant is meant to work

Many brain-computer interface companies focus on restoring function for people who are paralyzed. Wired reported that Coherence is instead building AI models to read faint electrical signals linked to brain tumors.

Detecting tumor activity

The company says it already knows how to pick up these signals in animals and use them to tell whether a cancer is growing, shrinking or coming back. Its team is now working to carry those findings into human research and, later, clinical trials.

Treating tumors with stimulation

The implant is also built to deliver mild electrical stimulation intended to stop tumors from growing. The goal, according to Wired, is for the device to learn over time which signals are tied to cancer and respond with treatment in real time.

Early human testing

This summer, Coherence briefly tested how well its implant records brain activity in three people who were already having brain tumors removed at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia. The device stayed in place for about 30 minutes before it was taken out, serving as an initial safety check. The company is now testing both recording and stimulation in seven more patients.

Why AI companies are interested in brain data

Woodington told Wired that AI is a "perfect use case" for brain-computer interfaces because the devices produce datasets too large for people to analyze on their own. AI models can help interpret raw neural data and connect it to actions such as moving a computer cursor or producing synthesized speech.

In January, OpenAI announced a direct investment in Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface company cofounded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Wired reported. Merge Labs emerged with $252 million in initial funding to pursue ultrasound technology for decoding information from the brain. Readers can find more coverage of the industry in our AI and tech section.

Ian Hathaway, a partner at the OpenAI Startup Fund, said in a statement quoted by Wired that "Coherence's approach to developing a cancer therapy capable of improving from data is incredibly innovative."

Who gets access to patient data

Woodington told Wired that OpenAI will not have access to Coherence's data. He said nothing in the contracts or arrangements would lead the company to share brain data or other health data it generates with OpenAI.

Wired noted that this appears to differ from OpenAI's relationship with Merge Labs. In its January announcement, OpenAI said it would collaborate with Merge Labs on scientific foundation models and other tools.

What to watch next

• Results from Coherence's ongoing tests of recording and stimulation in seven additional patients.
• A planned clinical trial, funded by the new money, to implant the device long-term in patients with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.
• Whether Coherence can move its animal findings on tumor signals into human research.
• The company's stated aim to develop implants for cancers in other parts of the body.