‘Mind-Reading’ Hat Can To Turn Thoughts Into Text, Claims Startup

A Silicon Valley startup claims it has developed a “mind-reading” beanie capable of turning thoughts into text on a computer screen, without the need for invasive brain implants.

The startup, Sabi, says its caps and beanies contain between 70,000 and 100,000 electroencephalography (EEG) sensors designed to detect neural activity from outside the skull and convert it into digital commands using AI.

The company claims users will eventually be able to “type” simply by thinking words, potentially removing the need for keyboards, touchscreens or implanted brain chips.

Unlike rivals such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which requires surgically implanted electrodes inside the brain, Sabi is attempting to create a non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) wearable that works entirely through external sensors embedded in ordinary-looking hats.

Sabi says its technology is designed primarily for text generation, with claimed speeds of up to 30 words per minute. The startup plans to launch commercially later this year, although the technology has not yet undergone independent testing or peer-reviewed validation.

The company’s claims have attracted both excitement and scepticism within the neurotechnology industry.

JoJo Platt, a Silicon Valley neurotechnology consultant, described the concept as “incredible” if it works as advertised, particularly because most existing external EEG systems use only hundreds of sensors rather than tens of thousands.

But industry experts warn that accurately decoding thoughts from outside the skull remains one of the biggest challenges in neuroscience.

Synchron CEO Tom Oxley, whose company develops implanted BCIs in partnership with Apple, said non-invasive wearables face major limitations because brain signals weaken significantly outside the skull, making real-time accuracy difficult.

Researchers have also warned that hair type, movement and external interference can reduce signal quality in EEG-based systems.

The broader brain-computer interface sector has gained momentum in recent years, with Neuralink, Blackrock Neurotech and Synchron all developing implanted systems that allow paralysed patients to control computers and communicate using brain signals.

Sabi’s wearable approach could dramatically lower the barriers to adoption if successful, avoiding surgery entirely while bringing brain-controlled computing into the mainstream consumer market.

For now though the company’s “mind-reading hat” remains unproven technology and one of the boldest claims yet in the race to commercialise brain-computer interfaces.