BCI (brain-computer interface) technology — where neural signals are transmitted from a person’s brain to a computer — was previously confined to the realm of science fiction, but now this technology signifies a thriving segment of the tech industry. One of the frontrunners in the BCI commercialization race is Neurable, which recently declared its intent to license its “mind-reading” technology for consumer wearables.

Neurable focuses on “non-invasive” BCI, setting itself apart from companies like Neuralink—the startup founded by Elon Musk known for implanting computer chips directly into individuals’ skulls—by offering a product that does not necessitate users to undergo brain surgery to reap its advantages.

Neurable’s innovation utilizes a mix of EEG sensors and signal processing to scan a user’s brain activity, interpret it with AI, and deliver insights regarding an individual’s cognitive capabilities.

In December, Neurable secured $35 million in a series A funding round, which it aims to utilize to enhance the commercialization of its technology. This week, the enterprise revealed its plans to license its technology to a range of consumer-oriented companies as part of its growth strategy.

The concept is that mind-reading technology (which can yield comprehensive data about a person’s cerebral functions while they engage in different activities) could be incorporated into wearables across various sectors—including health, sports, productivity, and gaming products. “Through Neurable’s licensing framework, OEMs can seamlessly integrate its AI-driven brain-sensing technology into current hardware, such as headphones, hats, glasses, and headbands, while retaining full oversight of product design, user experience, and distribution,” the company stated in a press announcement on Tuesday.

Neurable has already formed alliances with several companies to evaluate its efficacy. This includes HP Inc.’s HyperX, a gaming label, with which it developed a headset intended to assist gamers in enhancing their gameplay by optimizing focus and performance. Additionally, it has teamed up with a firm called iMotions, a software platform focused on human behavior research, to support the company’s research endeavors.

In a recent interview, Neurable’s CEO Ramses Alcaide refrained from disclosing details about new partnerships in development, but mentioned that the company is aiming to broaden its horizons across multiple sectors.

“In the past, we were very selective about our partnerships,” Alcaide stated, emphasizing that Neurable concentrated on a specific company to demonstrate that a distinctive commercial application was viable. With awareness that expectations can be met across numerous aspects, the startup is now focused on scaling, he noted.

“What we’re doing now is basically saying, ‘Hey, we’ve shown that we’re gaining significant traction’,” Alcaide remarked. “Let’s aim to make this as universal as heart rate monitors on your wrist, right?”

Despite the “non-invasive” designation, data about the brain is arguably more sensitive than information gathered from a heart rate monitor, leading to the question of what privacy safeguards a company like Neurable implements.

Alcaide mentioned that the company guarantees that user data is “secured and anonymized.” The firm’s privacy policy outlines various guidelines about when and how user data might be accessed and utilized. “We ensure compliance with HIPAA standards, going beyond what many startups would implement at our stage to guarantee data safety, encryption, and anonymization,” Alcaide explained.

Does Neurable use a user’s neural data to train its AI software?, we inquired. “We can do so with user consent, right?” Alcaide responded. “But we approach this in a very particular manner.” This distinct approach involves seeking consent from users regarding whether their data can be utilized for specific experiments, Alcaide clarified. “We’re not indiscriminately collecting data; it’s very targeted,” he added.

Alcaide expressed that his industry is at an “inflection point”—one at which there finally exists “a genuine business model in neuro-technology that can scale.” What follows this inflection point remains the pressing question.