10 Companies Building Brain-Like Systems for Smarter Machines

AI is becoming faster and more powerful every day. But to date, machines still struggle to think and adapt like humans. Computers are great at following instructions but lack the flexibility and instincts that come naturally to people.

This is why many companies are trying to build systems inspired by the human brain. Instead of just copying what humans do, they want machines to process information the way we do, i.e., by learning, reacting, and improving over time. Technologies like brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), sensory devices, and brain-like chips are moving from labs into real life.

Several companies are combining neuroscience, machine learning, and engineering in practical ways. Whether it’s helping people regain lost senses, enabling direct communication between brain and machine, or creating smarter control systems, these companies are turning complex science into real-world solutions. Here’s a look at some of the companies making real progress in this space.

BrainChip

CEO: Sean Hehir

BrainChip is developing neuromorphic processor chips that function more like a human brain than a traditional computer. Its flagship product, Akida™, uses neuromorphic principles to process sensor data with exceptional efficiency, precision, and low energy consumption. Akida enables edge learning directly on the chip, eliminating the need for cloud processing and dramatically reducing latency while improving data privacy and security. This technology is designed to handle real-world applications, such as connected cars and industrial IoT, where AI processing at the edge is becoming increasingly essential.

Paradromics

Founders: Matt Angle

Paradromics is working on brain-machine interfaces that allow high-bandwidth communication between the brain and external devices. Its technology aims to assist individuals with severe neurological conditions, enabling them to regain lost functions like communication. Paradromics’ brain-machine interface implant targets speech restoration. It is designed to process large amounts of data in real time, improving the interaction between the brain and technological devices. Its focus on high data rates makes it a promising solution for people suffering from paralysis and neurodegenerative diseases, offering hope for better treatments in the future.

Blackrock Neurotech

Founders: Marcus Gerhardt and Florian Solzbacher

Blackrock Neurotech is building brain-machine interfaces that allow individuals with severe motor disabilities to regain control over their surroundings. It specializes in creating advanced neural interfaces that enable users to interact with devices or control prosthetics directly with their brains. By bridging the gap between the brain and technology, Blackrock is helping to improve the quality of life for people with motor impairments. The company has developed a high-performance, finger-based BCI system that allows continuous control of three independent finger groups, of which the thumb can be controlled in two dimensions, yielding a total of four degrees of freedom. Its products are already used in clinical settings, advancing research and offering patients new possibilities for rehabilitation and independence. One such patient with Blackrock implants played a video game using multi-finger decoded movements.

Kernel

Founders: Bryan Johnson

Kernel is transforming how we measure the brain. The company evaluated every existing method for brain measurement to assess utility, scalability, ease of use, and technical readiness. In 2018, Kernel developed a new technology known as time-domain functional near-infrared spectroscopy, which led to its first hardware product, Kernel Flow. Kernel Flow allows for natural head motion and real-world measurements while still maintaining research-grade data quality. The company has built a software and services platform around this core technology to accelerate treatment discovery, improve patient outcomes, and transform neuromedicine with precision biomarkers. Its brain-scanning device, modeled after a snowboard helmet, uses safe infrared light to measure oxygen levels in the brain. Its ready-to-wear form factor and cloud-based analysis allow anyone to perform a brain health scan from anywhere.

Emotiv

Founders: Tan Le

Emotiv is a bioinformatics company developing devices with the help of electroencephalography (EEG) that allow users to monitor their brain activity. Its products are designed for use in cognitive training, mental health management, and human-computer interaction. Emotiv’s next-generation EEG active noise-canceling earphones enhance personal wellness by providing insights into cognitive performance and overall well-being and enabling users to interact with digital devices in new ways. Its affordable and easy-to-use technology is democratizing access to BCI, making them available for clinical settings and everyday consumers.

Precision Neuroscience

Founders: Benjamin Rapoport, Michael Mager, Demetrios Papageorgiou, and Mark Hettick

Precision Neuroscience is creating minimally invasive brain-computer interfaces to treat neurological disorders. Its technology offers effective, flexible, and implantable devices that can enhance cognitive functions and restore motor control. By combining precision neuromodulation with technology, Precision Neuroscience is developing solutions that could help individuals with motor disabilities regain independence and the world’s highest-resolution picture of human thought. The company is working towards next-generation neurotechnologies that could improve patient outcomes and offer better treatments for neurological conditions.

In a recent study conducted at West Virginia University, the Precision Neuroscience electrode array was used intraoperatively for the first time in humans. It demonstrated a sophisticated ability to map functional regions of the cortex in two dimensions, which could reduce uncertainty and translate to more precise clinical care.

Cognixion

Founders: Andreas Forsland

Cognixion is merging augmented reality (AR) and brain-computer interface technology to create a system that allows users to control AR devices using only their brain signals. Its technology is designed to assist people with disabilities by enabling them to interact with digital platforms in intuitive ways. Cognixion’s non-invasive BCI headsets are designed to be accessible and practical for a broader audience. Cognixion’s integration of BCI with AR is offering solutions that enhance user experiences, particularly for individuals with mobility impairments. 

NeoSensory

Founders: David Eagleman and Scott Novich

NeoSensory is helping to redefine accessibility by providing a new sensory experience that could improve the quality of life for individuals with sensory disabilities. It is focused on sensory augmentation, creating non-invasive brain-machine interfaces that convert sound into tactile sensations. Its flagship product allows individuals with hearing loss to experience sound in a new way, providing a sense of hearing through touch. The technology is designed to enhance sensory capabilities, offering a unique solution for people with hearing impairments. 

NeuroLutions

Founders: Daniel Moran and Eric Leuthardt

 NeuroLutions is working to bring a transformative solution to the market that could help millions of people affected by stroke and brain injuries. It is focused on developing brain-computer interface systems for stroke and brain injury patients. Its technology is designed to help individuals with limited motor control communicate and regain independence. NeuroLutions is offering a new form of communication that bypasses motor impairments by enabling users to interact with technology using their brainwaves. The company recently received dual certifications under the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO 13485). These certifications confirm that Neurolutions meets regulatory audit, compliance, and global medical device manufacturer quality standards for market entry of the IpsiHand™ Upper Extremity Rehabilitation System.

OpenBCI

Founders: Joel Murphy and Conor Russomanno

OpenBCI is an open-source brain-computer interface platform that develops affordable, high-quality biosensing tools that measure and record electrical activity from the brain (EEG), muscles (EMG), and heart (EKG). Its flagship products include the Cyton and Ganglion boards, which are compatible with standard EEG electrodes and can be integrated with various open-source software for signal processing. OpenBCI also offers the Ultracortex Mark IV, a 3D-printed EEG headset designed for customizable electrode placement.

Galea, OpenBCI’s latest product, is an enterprise, multi-modal biosensing headset designed to interface with the human mind. It combines high-fidelity AR/VR/XR display technology with the most comprehensive bio-sensing headwear ever made commercially available.

These companies are making it possible to improve cognitive function, restore motor control, and create new ways of communication. Their innovations are changing healthcare, accessibility, and how we interact with technology. As they continue to develop, their work will provide new solutions for people with disabilities and open up exciting possibilities for human-machine interaction.