US Startup Developed Mind-Reading Cap

Credit: Sabi

For many people, microchipping is a “horror story,” but in some cases, it’s unavoidable, especially for patients with spinal injuries. Furthermore, healthy individuals would also benefit from neural implants, improving their experience with computers, AI, and electronics in general. All of this would be hampered by the need for surgery to install the sensors, but it would eliminate the need for “cracks in the skull.”

California-based startup Sabi has unveiled a non-invasive brain-computer interface shaped like a regular knit hat or baseball cap. The device reads a person’s inner speech and converts it into text on a screen. This allows the user to mentally type without speaking, making interaction with technology more direct.

The technology is based on electroencephalography. Tens of thousands of miniature sensors are embedded within the device, recording the brain’s electrical activity through the skin and bones. Although these signals are typically weak, the developers believe the large number of sensors compensates for this shortcoming.

One of the challenges remains the individuality of the signals: the same thought produces different results in different people. The company reported that they are solving this problem using artificial intelligence and data collected from volunteers, allowing the system to adapt to the user with minimal customization.

The startup’s stated immediate goal is to create a system capable of decoding mental speech at a rate of approximately 30 words per minute. As it adapts to the user’s brain, the typing speed should increase. The company, which has already raised investment from Khosla Ventures, is confident that once people see the possibility of mentally communicating with a computer without the need for surgical implants, they will line up for the new technology.

The “mind-reading caps” are expected to go on sale later this year. The company is also developing a version of baseball caps with sensors.