TL;DR:
- Eric Wollberg and Wesley Berry founded Prophetic to explore lucid dreams and brain-imaging technology.
- Prophetic is developing the “Halo,” a wearable device for lucid dreaming, backed by a $1.1 million funding round.
- The company collaborates with Card79, known for working with Elon Musk’s Neuralink.
- Lucid dreaming has fascinated people for years, with scientific interest growing.
- Prophetic aims to decode brain data and stimulate the prefrontal cortex using focused ultrasound.
- A fully functional prototype is expected in 2024, with device shipments planned for 2025.
Main AI News:
In the ever-evolving landscape of tech innovation, the meeting of minds between Eric Wollberg and Wesley Berry in March bore witness to a convergence of unique interests and expertise. Wollberg’s pursuit of harnessing the power of lucid dreams to delve into the depths of human consciousness coincided with Berry’s collaboration with the musician Grimes, where they endeavored to translate neural signals into captivating art. Both were enthralled by the potential of brain-imaging tools in unraveling the intricate tapestry of human thought.
At ages 29 and 27, respectively, these visionaries embarked on a transformative journey, giving birth to Prophetic in that very same month. This pioneering tech startup is on a mission to construct what they boldly claim as the “world’s premier wearable device for enhancing lucid dreams.” A headband-like apparatus that emits precision-focused ultrasound signals, it holds the promise of ushering users into the realm of lucid dreaming—a state where one becomes conscious within the dream and wields control over its narrative.
This audacious venture recently secured a remarkable $1.1 million in a previously undisclosed funding round, featuring prominent backers such as a16z’s Scout Fund and spearheaded by BoxGroup—the trailblazing VC fund renowned for its early investment in fintech juggernaut Plaid. To bring their groundbreaking creation, christened the “Halo,” into the realm of reality, Prophetic has joined forces with none other than Card79—a name synonymous with the design and construction of hardware for Elon Musk’s trailblazing brain-computer interface venture, Neuralink.
Prophetic’s bold bet on cutting-edge hardware enters a playing field where artificial intelligence enterprises are increasingly delving into the realm of wearable technology. Humane AI, a company founded in 2017 by former Apple luminaries, recently unveiled its own wearable—the AI Pin—at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week. Notably, the legendary iPhone designer Jony Ive and OpenAI’s visionary leader, Sam Altman, are reportedly engaged in conversations regarding a groundbreaking AI hardware project.
Eric Wollberg and Wesley Berry, the dynamic CEO and chief technology officer of Prophetic, respectively, intend to unveil a partially functional prototype in the coming weeks. However, the comprehensive testing and refinement of their brainchild are slated for the third or fourth quarter of 2024, coinciding with a year-long study on brain imaging in partnership with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior—a division of Radboud University in the Netherlands.
Prophetic’s ambition transcends the ordinary, mirroring the audacious goals often associated with modern-era tech startups. Wollberg draws parallels between their mission and that of OpenAI, envisioning a collective pursuit of comprehending the enigmatic nature of consciousness. Their LinkedIn page succinctly proclaims, “Prometheus stole fire from the gods; we will steal dreams from the prophets.“
Yet, despite their lofty aspirations, Prophetic stands a year away from a fully functional prototype, with the expectation of delivering devices to eager customers commencing in the spring of 2025. It is a journey fraught with challenges, but one that holds the promise of revolutionizing the realm of lucid dreaming through innovative technology.
The Fascination with Lucid Dreams
Lucid dreaming has captivated both the general public and the scientific community for decades, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture through references in films such as “The Matrix” and “Inception.” It has even given rise to a vibrant online community on Reddit, boasting over 500,000 avid members under the banner of r/LucidDreaming. The roots of neuroscientific exploration into this intriguing phenomenon trace back to the 1970s, as documented in research published by the National Library of Medicine. However, the field has witnessed an upsurge of interest with the burgeoning domain of cognitive neuroscience.
Eric Wollberg’s own fascination with lucid dreaming began at the tender age of 12 when he experienced his first lucid dream—a moment he describes as “profoundly transformative.” During his college years, he honed his ability to induce lucid dreams, practicing the art twice a week. It was during this period that he conceived the idea of utilizing this practice as a means to unlock deeper insights into the human consciousness.
Wesley Berry, on the other hand, brought a wealth of expertise in neurotech prototyping to the table. His endeavors involved feeding electroencephalogram (EEG) data into a transformative neural network—an AI model pioneered by Google. This ambitious venture aimed to decipher the vivid mental imagery experienced by individuals. Berry had been immersed in such work while collaborating with the musical genius Grimes.
Berry recalls his initial skepticism when Wollberg approached him with the concept. He questioned the feasibility of inducing dreams, especially lucid ones, given the state of technology at the time. However, a pivotal realization altered his perspective. Instead of inducing the dream state itself, they aimed to activate the prefrontal cortex of individuals who were already naturally dreaming—a phenomenon occurring for most people multiple times a week. This shift in perspective marked a turning point, as it paved the way for the realization of their vision.
The Quest for Data
Prophetic’s ambitious vision hinges on data, particularly the results of the Donders Institute’s year-long study. The crown jewel of data they seek is the elusive gamma frequencies—the swiftest and most discernible range of brainwave frequencies. These frequencies are associated with deep focus and are a hallmark of an active prefrontal cortex—an essential characteristic of lucid dreams.
Unlike leading transformer models that primarily deal with text-based inputs and outputs, Berry’s unconventional approach with Prophetic involves a convolutional neural network. This innovative strategy aims to decode brain-imaging data into discrete “tokens,” subsequently feeding them into the transformer model in a manner that it can comprehend. This intricate process creates a closed loop wherein the model learns and discerns the sequences of brain states and neuro-stimulation required to maximize prefrontal cortex activation—a key to unlocking the world of lucid dreams.
The Vision of Prophetic’s Prototype
The ultimate goal of Prophetic’s prototype is to employ focused ultrasound technology to stimulate the prefrontal cortex of users during their dreams. Research indicates that such targeted ultrasound stimulation can enhance working memory—an effect akin to navigating within a dream without the knowledge of how one arrived there. It is this profound potential that fuels Berry’s unwavering conviction in the project’s success.
Berry succinctly encapsulates the essence of their innovation, describing the experience with focused ultrasound as a “quantum leap” beyond existing alternatives. Prophetic’s pursuit is characterized by a resolute commitment to push the boundaries of possibility and redefine the very nature of consciousness through their groundbreaking Halo device.
Conclusion:
Prophetic’s venture into the lucid dreaming market represents a pioneering effort at the intersection of technology and consciousness exploration. With strong financial backing and collaborations with leading hardware experts, Prophetic aims to revolutionize the way we understand and experience dreams. As the market for wearable tech and neuroscience continues to expand, Prophetic’s innovative approach could have far-reaching implications for both scientific research and consumer experiences in the future.
