Articles tagged with "neurotechnology"
OpenAI Invests in Sam Altman’s New Brain Tech Startup Merge Labs
OpenAI has invested in Merge Labs, a neurotechnology startup co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, aiming to develop brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that connect human brains to computers using ultrasound technology. Merge Labs has raised $252 million from investors including OpenAI, Bain Capital, and Gabe Newell. Unlike Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which implants electrodes directly into the brain, Merge plans to use non-invasive methods involving molecules and ultrasound to read and modulate neural activity without implants. The company envisions interfaces that integrate biology, devices, and AI to create accessible, user-friendly brain-computer connections. AI will be central to Merge’s approach, with OpenAI collaborating on scientific foundation models to interpret neural signals, adapt to individuals, and improve interface reliability despite noisy data. This could enable more complex brain-computer interactions beyond current capabilities, such as controlling cursors or robotic arms. Merge is a spinoff of Forest Neurotech, a nonprofit focused on brain research, particularly mental
IoTbrain-computer-interfaceneurotechnologyAIultrasound-technologywearable-deviceshuman-computer-interactionHow the Sleepbuds maker, Ozlo, is building a platform for sleep data
Ozlo, the maker of sleep-focused earbuds known as Sleepbuds, is evolving its product into a broader platform centered on sleep data. Originally founded by former Bose employees, Ozlo has developed an iOS and Android SDK that allows third-party apps to access detailed sleep metrics collected by its devices. These metrics include body movements, respiration rates, temperature, and light levels, which are analyzed by machine learning algorithms to determine sleep or relaxation states. This data-sharing capability enables partners like the meditation app Calm to assess the effectiveness of their content in real time, providing valuable feedback that can improve user experience and content investment decisions. Beyond hardware sales, Ozlo aims to build new revenue streams through software subscriptions and healthcare applications. The company is developing AI-driven features to offer personalized sleep insights and is creating tinnitus therapy tools based on clinical research conducted with Walter Reed Hospital. These therapies, designed to alleviate ear ringing for about 15% of Ozlo’s users, will be available via subscription starting in the second quarter of
IoTsleep-technologywearable-sensorshealth-data-platformmachine-learningsmart-devicesneurotechnologyWhen AI meets sleep: Designing the night of the future
The article "When AI meets sleep: Designing the night of the future" explores the evolving understanding of sleep as an active, complex state rather than merely a passive biological necessity. It highlights how traditional sleep analysis has been retrospective and limited, overlooking the rich cognitive and emotional processes occurring during sleep, particularly during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. The piece argues for a paradigm shift toward recognizing sleep as a dynamic form of activity that can be better understood and engaged with through advanced technology. Central to this innovation is SomnoAI, an AI system developed by REMspace, a neurotechnology company specializing in sleep and consciousness research. SomnoAI is designed to monitor and interpret subtle sleep rhythms in real time, improving rest quality, predicting sleep disorders, and even enabling dream control. The technology is embodied in the LucidMe PRO smart sleep mask, which tracks brain waves (EEG), breathing, and movement to provide biofeedback and gentle sensory cues. This integrated system supports faster sleep onset, deeper rest,
IoTsleep-technologyAIwearable-devicesbiofeedbacksmart-sleep-maskneurotechnologyBrain Gear Is the Hot New Wearable
The article highlights the emerging trend of brain-focused wearable devices that use electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor and interpret brain waves, moving beyond traditional fitness trackers. These devices leverage AI to analyze electrical impulses from the brain for various applications, such as improving sleep quality, enhancing productivity, and enabling new forms of interaction. For example, Elemind’s $350 headband uses acoustic stimulation to promote deeper sleep by shifting brain activity to delta waves, while Neurable’s $500 EEG-equipped headphones track concentration levels and encourage breaks to optimize work efficiency. Major tech companies like Apple are also entering the neurotech space, developing EEG-sensing AirPods and integrating brain-wave control into their Vision Pro augmented reality headset, enabling users to operate devices with their thoughts via brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Additionally, startups and nonprofits are exploring open-source neuro apps and brain-controlled games, demonstrating the potential for brainwave-based interaction in entertainment and productivity. The article also discusses medical applications of brain wearables, such
IoTwearable-technologybrain-computer-interfaceEEG-devicesneurotechnologyaugmented-realityAI-in-healthcareSam Altman’s New Brain Venture, Merge Labs, Will Spin Out of a Nonprofit
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is launching a new startup called Merge Labs, which is being spun out of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit Forest Neurotech. Merge Labs, still in stealth mode, will focus on developing ultrasound-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to read brain activity. The company’s cofounders include Altman, Forest Neurotech’s CEO Sumner Norman, chief scientific officer Tyson Aflalo, and Alex Blania, CEO of the Altman-backed digital identity company World. Forest Neurotech, founded in 2023 as a focused research organization, has been working on ultrasound BCIs that detect brain activity indirectly by measuring blood flow changes, rather than electrical signals as done by competitors like Neuralink. Forest Neurotech’s ultrasound device is miniaturized from standard ultrasound machines and can also provide brain stimulation through focused sound waves. It is currently being trialed in the UK for safety, with potential applications in treating mental health disorders and brain injuries. One key advantage
robotbrain-computer-interfaceultrasound-technologyneural-engineeringbrain-machine-interfaceneurotechnologymedical-devicesNeuralink performs first-ever brain implant surgeries in Canada
Neuralink has successfully performed its first brain-computer interface implant surgeries in Canada, marking a significant expansion of its clinical trials beyond the United States and the United Kingdom. Two patients with cervical spinal cord injuries underwent robotic-assisted implantation of Neuralink’s wireless brain device at the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto as part of the CAN-PRIME Study. This study aims to assess the safety of the implant and surgical robot, and to determine whether individuals with paralysis can use their thoughts to control external devices such as cursors, text messaging, or robotic arms. Recruitment for the study is ongoing, including patients with cervical spinal injuries or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The implants hold promise for dramatically improving the quality of life for people with paralysis by enabling them to perform everyday tasks like checking emails or using smart home devices through thought control. The surgeries underscore Canada’s growing prominence in neurotechnology research, with UHN recognized as a leading center for surgical innovation. Neuralink, founded by Elon
robotbrain-computer-interfaceneural-implantsneurotechnologyrobotic-surgeryassistive-technologywireless-devicesNeuralink brain chip trials launch in Britain for paralyzed patients
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-implant company, has initiated its first European clinical trial in the UK, aiming to test its brain-computer interface (BCI) technology on seven patients with severe paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries or neurological conditions like ALS. The trial, conducted in partnership with University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, involves implanting Neuralink’s N1 chip under the skull to enable patients to control digital devices such as smartphones and tablets using only their thoughts. This marks the UK as the first European country to host such a study and builds on Neuralink’s earlier human trials in the US, where five paralyzed patients have already used the chip to operate devices mentally. Neuralink’s N1 chip is a small device, about the size of a 10-pence coin, equipped with 128 ultra-thin threads that connect approximately 1,000 electrodes to the brain to read electrical activity and translate it into digital commands. The company
robotIoTbrain-computer-interfaceNeuralinkmedical-technologyassistive-technologyneurotechnologyNeuralink helps paralysed woman write her name after 20 years
Audrey Crews, a woman paralyzed for over 20 years, has successfully written her name using only her mind, thanks to Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. Crews, who lost movement at age 16, is the first woman to receive the Neuralink implant, which involves brain surgery to insert 128 threads into her motor cortex. The chip, about the size of a quarter, enables her to control a computer purely through brain signals, marking a significant milestone in BCI development. However, Crews clarified that the implant does not restore physical mobility but is designed solely for telepathic control of digital devices. Neuralink’s PRIME Study, which tests these implants in human subjects, includes other participants such as Nick Wray, who also shared positive early experiences with the technology. Wray, living with ALS, expressed hope and excitement about the potential for digital autonomy and the future impact of BCIs. Founded in 2016, Neural
robotbrain-computer-interfaceNeuralinkassistive-technologymedical-implanthuman-machine-interactionneurotechnologyThe Very Real Case for Brain-Computer Implants
The article discusses the emerging and rapidly advancing technology of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), focusing on the competitive efforts of companies like Synchron to develop commercial implants that enable direct communication between the human brain and digital devices. These implants allow users to control computers or phones through thought alone, a concept once confined to science fiction but now becoming a tangible reality. The piece highlights the significance of this technology in Silicon Valley's tech landscape and its potential to transform human-computer interaction. Additionally, the content is drawn from an episode of WIRED’s podcast "Uncanny Valley," where hosts and guests explore the implications, challenges, and progress in the BCI field. While the transcript includes casual conversation and podcast logistics, the core takeaway centers on the promise and ongoing development of brain implants as a groundbreaking interface technology, underscoring a heated race among companies to bring effective, user-friendly BCIs to market. However, the article’s transcript is incomplete and somewhat fragmented, limiting detailed insights into technical specifics or broader
brain-computer-interfaceneurotechnologybiomedical-implantshuman-machine-interactionneural-implantsbrain-computer-communicationmedical-technologyThere's Neuralink—and There's the Mind-Reading Company That Might Surpass It
The article contrasts two brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies aimed at helping people with paralysis regain autonomy: Elon Musk’s Neuralink and the startup Synchron. Unlike Neuralink, which requires invasive open-skull brain surgery, Synchron’s BCI is implanted via a less invasive procedure through blood vessels, avoiding direct brain surgery. The article follows Mark Jackson, a 65-year-old man with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), who uses Synchron’s implant to control a computer game with his thoughts. Despite his paralysis, Jackson can steer a cursor by thinking about specific hand movements, demonstrating how the system decodes neural signals linked to intended actions using AI-powered software. Jackson’s journey highlights the potential of Synchron’s technology to restore independence for people with neurodegenerative diseases. After a multi-hour implantation procedure and months of calibration, Jackson successfully connected the internal implant with an external unit, enabling him to interact with digital devices through thought alone. While the implant does not slow ALS progression, it offers a new
robotbrain-computer-interfaceneural-technologyassistive-technologymedical-devicesneurotechnologyALS-treatmentChina: Paralyzed patient regains limb function with new brain-chip
A research team led by Professor Duan Feng at Nankai University in China has conducted the world’s first human trial of a brain-computer interface (BCI) implanted via blood vessels, enabling a 67-year-old stroke patient with hemiplegia to regain voluntary limb movement. Unlike more invasive methods such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink, this minimally invasive procedure involved inserting a stent electrode with 50-micrometre thick electrodes into the patient’s brain blood vessels through a vein in the neck. The electrodes connect wirelessly to an implanted device, allowing real-time EEG signal transmission and functional electrical stimulation that supports motor training and neuroplasticity. Following treatment, the patient regained the ability to grasp objects and perform daily tasks without side effects like infection or thrombosis. This breakthrough builds on prior animal studies where BCIs controlled movements in sheep and monkeys, marking a significant advancement in interventional BCI surgery. The Chinese trial demonstrates not only the safety and efficacy of this minimally invasive approach but
brain-computer-interfaceroboticsneurotechnologymedical-devicesfunctional-electrical-stimulationwireless-implantsstroke-rehabilitationA Neuralink Rival Just Tested a Brain Implant in a Person
Paradromics, an Austin-based neurotechnology company founded in 2015, has conducted its first human test of Connexus, a brain implant designed to restore speech and communication in people with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury, stroke, or ALS. The device translates neural signals into synthesized speech, text, and cursor control by recording electrical activity from individual neurons via 420 tiny electrodes embedded in the brain tissue. The initial human implantation occurred on May 14 at the University of Michigan during epilepsy surgery, where the device was temporarily inserted into the temporal lobe using a specialized EpiPen-like tool. This procedure allowed researchers to confirm the device’s ability to capture neural signals with high resolution, which is critical for accurately decoding intended speech. Connexus is part of a growing field of brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink and Synchron, which also develop implants to interpret neural signals but differ in electrode design and signal resolution. Unlike other devices that record from groups of neurons, Paradromics’ implant targets individual neurons to achieve higher-quality signals. BCIs do not read private thoughts but decode neural patterns associated with intended movements, such as facial muscle activity involved in speech. Recent studies from Stanford and UC San Francisco have demonstrated the ability to decode intended speech at rates approaching half of normal speaking speed in paralyzed individuals. Paradromics aims to launch a clinical trial by the end of 2023 to implant Connexus long-term in patients with paralysis, advancing toward commercial availability despite the regulatory and technical challenges of fully implantable brain devices.
robotbrain-computer-interfaceneural-implantsmedical-devicesneurotechnologyassistive-technologybiomedical-engineering