China's BrainCo bets on wearable brain tech
Chinese tech companies are increasingly focusing on non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology as an alternative to surgical implants. While the field is currently smaller than AI, it is gaining strategic importance in the U.S.-China tech rivalry.
Why it matters
Advancements in BCI could revolutionize medical treatment for disabilities and eventually lead to human-AI integration, making it a critical frontier for future technological dominance.
Elon Musk's Neuralink, which uses implants in people's heads to compensate for disabilities, has become the poster child for so-called brain-computer interfaces (BCI). But some companies are betting that mass-market neural tech won't require opening the skull at all.
BCI works by processing brain signals and translating them into commands, allowing external devices to be controlled by thought.
Funding for startups in the field is a fraction of the capital flowing into artificial intelligence. But interest in the nascent field is rising as companies notch up milestones, such as enabling people with degenerative conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to type or play video games using brain signals.
AI is a catalyst, boosting signal-processing capabilities. Some in the industry envision a further leap one day: using the mind to control or connect with AI and robots.
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