Kernel (neurotechnology company)

Kernel is a private neurotechnology company headquartered in Culver City, Los Angeles, California. It develops brain-machine interface and neuroscience technology. The company was founded in 2016 by Bryan Johnson who backed it with a personal investment of $54 million.[1][2]

Kernel
TypePrivate
Founded2016 (2016)
FounderBryan Johnson
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Websitekernel.co

History

Johnson founded Kernel in 2016 and began researching neuroprosthetics, devices implanted into the brain that mimic, substitute, or assist brain functions.[3]

In May 2020, Kernel unveiled two brain-activity monitoring devices. The devices resemble a helmet covered with sensors and have the ability to see and record brain activity, allowing scientists to more easily and quickly analyze neurons.[3][1]

One device, Flux, measures electromagnetic activity. Another, Flow, pulses the brain with light to measure changes in blood metabolism. Kernel's hardware prevents environmental interference; custom microchips process signals, and algorithms analyze brain activity. The company shrunk large, room-sized machines down to the size of a wearable bicycle helmet, which allows people to be more mobile as they are monitored. The devices are expected to become available for purchase in late 2021. Potential applications of the technology include assisting paralyzed individuals with communication and tracking mental functions, such as creativity or anxiety.[4][5][3]

At the same time, Kernel introduced "Sound ID," software that can tell what speech or song a person is listening to just from brain data. Bloomberg called the software “a sort of Shazam for the mind”, referring to the popular music-recognition app, Shazam.[1] In a demonstration, music producer and DJ Steve Aoki tried one of Kernel's helmets with Sound ID technology. As Aoki listened to his own compositions, Kernel software analyzed Aoki's brain activity and identified the song being played.[1]

Kernel was featured in the 2020 documentary, I Am Human, about brain-machine interfaces.[6]

Kernel raised $53 million in 2020 to accelerate development of a new generation of brain tech.[7]

Operations

Johnson, who has said the future of humanity will be a combination of human and artificial intelligence, says Kernel's objective is "to read and write the underlying functions of the brain."[8][9]

As of 2019, the company is researching neurological diseases and dysfunctions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, depression and anxiety.[10] Kernel is one of several companies researching links between the human brain and computer interfaces, including Neuralink and Facebook.[11]

Kernel also offers neuroscience as a service to scientists and businesses, conducting subject testing at their office.[1]

References
  1. "A Neuroscience Startup Uses Helmets to Measure Brain Activity". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  2. Mannes, John (2016-10-20). "Bryan Johnson Invests $100 Million In Kernel To Unlock The Power Of The Human Brain". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  3. Angeles, Ben Hoyle, Los. "Secret team invent helmet to read the mind". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  4. Statt, Nick (2017-02-22). "Kernel Is Trying To Hack The Human Brain - But Neuroscience Has A Long Way To Go". The Verge. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  5. Johnson, Bryan (2017-02-22). "Kernel Acquires KRS to Build Next-Generation Neural Interfaces". Medium. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  6. "Brain-Machine Interfaces Could Give Us All Superpowers". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  7. "Kernel raises $53 million to bring neuroscience insights to businesses". VentureBeat. 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  8. Johnson, Bryan (2016-10-12). "The Combination of Human and Artificial Intelligence Will Define Humanity's Future". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  9. Metz, Cade (2017-03-31). "Elon Musk Isn't The Only One Trying To Computerize Your Brain". Wired. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  10. Johnson, Bryan (2017-02-22). "Kernel Acquires KRS to Build Next-Generation Neural Interfaces". Medium. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  11. Regalado, Antonio (2017-03-16). "The Entrepreneur With The $100 Million Plan To Link Brains To Computers". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
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