Investors put more money into brain implants that read signals

In short: Investors are increasingly funding start-ups that build brain implants designed to turn brain signals into actions on a computer.

What's going on

Start-ups from Silicon Valley to Beijing are attracting venture capital for “thought-controlled” technology, according to the Financial Times. These companies are working on brain implants, which are small devices placed in or on the brain.

The basic idea is to pick up electrical signals from the brain and translate them into commands for a device. You can think of it like a keyboard that you do not type on with your fingers. Instead, the “keys” are patterns in brain activity (the tiny electrical changes your brain already makes).

Much of the attention is on helping people with serious disabilities. For example, a person who cannot speak or move could potentially use an implant to control a cursor, type text, or operate a wheelchair. The Financial Times article describes investor interest rising as early demonstrations improve and as more companies try to move from lab tests to real products.

What to watch

More funding can speed up testing in people, but it also raises hard questions. These include safety during surgery, how well the devices work over time, and who owns the brain data that is collected. Regulators may also take a closer look, because brain signals are deeply personal and could be misused if handled like ordinary app data.

Source: Financial Times