OpenAI 押注超声路线，Merge Labs 开辟脑机新赛道

Investment Rating - The industry rating is "Outperform the Market," indicating that the overall return of the industry is expected to exceed the market benchmark index by more than 5% in the next 6 months [6][13]. Core Insights - Merge Labs has successfully completed a seed round financing of approximately $250 million, achieving a valuation of $850 million. This financing was led by OpenAI, with its CEO Sam Altman participating as a co-founder and investor. Unlike mainstream brain-machine interface technologies, Merge Labs focuses on a non-invasive or minimally invasive approach centered on ultrasound, bypassing the traditional "electrode-neuron" paradigm [3][4]. - The brain-machine interface market is projected to grow rapidly, with the global market size expected to reach approximately $2.62 billion in 2024 and $2.94 billion in 2025, potentially growing to $12.4 billion by 2034, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.35% over the next decade. In China, the market size is anticipated to be 3.2 billion yuan in 2024, increasing to 6.14 billion yuan by 2028 [5]. Summary by Sections Investment Highlights - Merge Labs' ultrasound-based technology aims to balance between non-invasive (safe but limited resolution) and invasive (clear signals but with surgical risks and ethical concerns) methods. The unique potential of ultrasound's deep penetration and "soft interface" concept is highlighted, although the technology is still in the laboratory research phase and faces multiple unresolved challenges [4]. Market Outlook - The report emphasizes the strategic importance of brain-machine interfaces as a key sector in the "14th Five-Year Plan," aiming to drive new economic growth points. The industry is expected to gain momentum over the next decade, potentially creating a new high-tech industry in China [5]. Recommended Companies - The report suggests monitoring companies such as Rock Mountain Technology, Hanwei Technology, Sanbo Brain Science, Innovation Medical, Dongfang Zhongke, Xiangyu Medical, Entropy Technology, Chengyitong, Weisi Medical, Meilan De, Aipeng Medical, and Beiyikang for potential investment opportunities [5].