Brain wearables draw 39% interest for sleep, focus and mood as consumer uses emerge

A survey found that 39% of respondents would use a non-invasive brain-sensing device for sleep, focus or mood, pointing to early consumer interest in neural technology.

In its “The State of Longevity” report published on 2026-11-03, Andreessen Horowitz said 29% of respondents would use thought-controlled devices. The publisher sees potential for brain-computer interfaces and brain wearables to become an everyday consumer category.

According to the report, Elon Musk's Neuralink has brought surgically implanted brain-computer interfaces into public view. Clinical trial participants with paralysis already use its devices to control computers by decoding intended movement from activity in the motor cortex. Neuralink is also developing technology intended to restore some visual perception for people who are blind by stimulating the visual cortex.

Other implantable approaches record signals from the brain's surface without penetrating the underlying tissue, potentially offering advantages for safety and long-term use. At UCSF, Dr. Edward Chang's team uses high-density electrode arrays on the brain's surface to record activity across several regions. In 2021, the team became the first to decode full words directly from the brain activity of a person who was paralyzed and unable to speak. More recently, it decoded speech and gestures together, demonstrating how a single implant could support both words and body language, the report said.

Non-invasive approaches could reach consumers sooner in other applications, Andreessen Horowitz said. Companies are developing patches, headbands and hats with electrodes that sense brain activity. Conduit, Alljoined and Aleph Neuro are collecting large datasets to train AI models to translate weak, noisy signals recorded non-invasively into text and images reflecting what someone is thinking or seeing.

The report suggested that such technology could eventually let people communicate ideas directly to AI agents without first putting them into words. Other devices aim to alter brain activity as well as read it. More neuro wearables are coming to market that seek to improve sleep and focus through targeted stimulation of the brain or peripheral nerves, it said.

Andreessen Horowitz expects brain-computer interfaces and brain wearables to become a consumer category within the authors' lifetimes. It views the survey findings as evidence of early interest in technology that could change how people manage their health and interact with consumer devices.