OpenAI and Peter Thiel's Founders Fund are investing in Coherence Neuro as part of a $45M seed funding round.
Coherence is developing brain implants and AI models to decode electrical signals associated with tumors, following initial safety tests in Australia.
The investment is part of a $45 million funding round. CEO and co-founder Ben Woodington said artificial intelligence helps analyze the vast amounts of data these devices generate, something humans couldn't do on their own.
What does the device do?
Unlike other efforts to help paralyzed people move, Coherence is developing artificial intelligence programs to decode the subtle electrical signals associated with brain tumors. The goal is for the implant to locate the cancer while delivering gentle electrical stimulation to stop its growth.
The first tests and subsequent plans
Last summer, the company briefly tested its implant on three patients undergoing brain tumor surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia. The device was left in place for about 30 minutes to conduct an initial safety check.
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The company now plans to test the recording and stimulation capabilities in seven more patients. The new funding will be used to launch a clinical trial of long-term placement of the device in patients with an aggressive form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma.
Woodington made it clear that OpenAI will not have access to the health data or brain data the company produces. OpenAI has also previously invested in Merge Labs, another brain device company, where there was an agreement for scientific collaboration.
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