OpenAI and Peter Thiel's Founders Fund have invested in Coherence Neuro, a startup working on brain implants that could detect and treat cancer. The investment is part of a $45 million seed funding round and signals a growing interest in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) by Big Tech. Coherence's CEO, Ben Woodington, believes that AI and BCIs are a perfect match, as developers of BCIs generate vast datasets that are too complex for human analysis.

The startup's aim is to decode subtle electrical signals linked to brain tumors, with the eventual goal of conducting clinical trials for long-term implants. Coherence has already tested its implant's recording ability in three patients undergoing brain tumor removal surgery.

Woodington also notes that Coherence will not share its brain data with OpenAI, maintaining a clear line between the startup's data and the tech giant's research. However, OpenAI and Merge Labs will collaborate on scientific foundation models to accelerate progress in BCIs.

With this investment, OpenAI and Founders Fund are supporting a potentially revolutionary approach to cancer treatment. It remains to be seen whether brain implants will become a standard tool in the fight against cancer, but the technology's potential is undeniable.