Mikhail Shapiro
playerAI & Compute · Biotech & Transhumanism
A scientist is figuring out how to control brain cells with ultrasound — no surgery, no opening your skull.
Who they are
Mikhail Shapiro, a Caltech biomolecular engineer and scientific director of Merge Labs.
What they do
The engine tracks his work as a path to brain-computer interfaces that skip invasive surgery.
How it works
He's developing 'sonogenetics' — genetically altering brain cells so they respond to ultrasound, enabling non-invasive, high-bandwidth two-way brain-computer communication that bypasses the implanted electrodes used by approaches like Neuralink.
Why it matters
It positions OpenAI to dominate the merger of mind and machine without ever opening the skull, a potentially huge edge in cognitive tech.
The engine's record — word for word
Caltech biomolecular engineer. Scientific director of Merge Labs. Developing sonogenetics — genetically modifying brain cells using molecular reporters to respond to ultrasound for non-invasive high-bandwidth bidirectional BCI. Bypasses invasive electrode approaches (Neuralink). Positions OpenAI to dominate cognitive hardware-software convergence without opening the skull.
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