April 26, 2026, 6:51 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Not only implants are expected to make computer control via the brain possible. A startup is focusing on something much closer to everyday life for many people.
For years, companies have been working on controlling computers directly through the brain. The hope behind this is significant: If signals from the brain can be technically utilized, it could greatly change the interaction between the digital and real worlds, enabling new applications. While some companies rely on implants, the U.S. startup Sabi is pursuing a much more everyday approach. It aims to integrate technology into clothing rather than under the skin.
Sensors in Fabric Instead of Technology in the Head
As reported by “Wired” (paywall), the California-based company is developing knit caps and baseball caps designed to measure brainwaves. Up to 100,000 sensors are embedded directly in the fabric. The captured signals are then to be evaluated by AI and wirelessly converted into words. In other words, the headgear is intended to read users’ thoughts and translate them into speech. According to Sabi, this is already possible today.
The startup plans to launch its smart headgear on the market later this year. According to the report, the AI model used for this was trained with approximately 100,000 hours of thought material from 100 volunteers. Sabi is thus opting for a solution that can be worn in everyday life and does not require any bodily intervention. The company apparently sees this as an important step in making brain-computer interfaces more appealing to more people.
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What the Cap Can Do
Currently, the system can capture about 30 words per minute by measuring brainwaves. With prolonged use, the AI is expected to continue learning and gradually improve its performance. The goal extends beyond individual words. Sabi aims for users to be able to write entire texts using only the power of thought. Additionally, AI applications should also be controllable in this way without further input. The company’s slogan fittingly is “Just think.”
With its development, Sabi aims to advance work on brain-computer interfaces. Unlike implants, the technology here is designed to integrate more easily into daily life. A cap or hat appears significantly easier to use at first glance than a procedure on the head. From the company’s perspective, this could be the advantage. The headgear is intended not only to function technically but also to serve as a product that many people would actually use.
Whether This Convinces in Everyday Life Remains to Be Seen
Despite the announcements, it remains unclear how well the technology will actually work in practice. Sabi has not yet named a price for the smart caps. There is also a fundamental question: whether people are willing to wear technology, presumably connected to the internet, that is designed to read their thoughts. While the benefits might sound appealing to some, the risk seems high of potentially sharing content that is better kept private.