This Beanie Is Designed to Read Your Thoughts

A new wearable technology from California-based startup Sabi is looking to transform how we interact with computers. The company is developing a beanie-style brain-computer interface (BCI) that translates users' thoughts into digital text without the need for speaking or typing. Scheduled for release by the end of the year, Sabi is also planning a baseball cap variant of the device.

How the Sabi Beanie Works

The beanie uses electroencephalography (EEG), placing tens of thousands of tiny sensors inside the fabric to pick up the brain’s electrical activity noninvasively. Unlike traditional EEG devices that use a few dozen to a few hundred sensors, Sabi's cap features between 70,000 and 100,000 sensors, enhancing signal clarity through the skull.

Decoding Thoughts with AI

Currently, AI systems used in BCIs must be calibrated for each user due to individual differences in neural patterns. Sabi is addressing this limitation by building an AI 'brain foundation model' trained on over 100,000 hours of brain data from many people, aiming to translate a wide range of internal speech patterns with minimal setup and improved accuracy.

Comfort, Security, and Privacy

Sabi focuses on creating a device that’s not only functional but also discreet and comfortable for daily wear. Data privacy is a top concern, with end-to-end encryption ensured for neural data. The company collaborates with security experts to audit its technology and reinforces the importance of treating neural data with the highest level of care.

Future Potential

While initial typing speeds are projected at about 30 words per minute, Sabi expects this rate to increase as the technology matures and as users become more accustomed to the device. The emphasis on noninvasiveness and convenience could help BCIs reach mainstream adoption, letting users interact with devices through mere thought.

For more details, read the original article by Emily Mullin at WIRED.