A startup company called Prophetic has developed a wearable device that claims to induce and stabilize lucid dreams, using artificial intelligence and ultrasound technology. Lucid dreams are dreams in which the dreamer is aware of being in a dream and can manipulate the dream content.
The device, named Halo, is a headband that monitors the brain activity of the user and detects when they enter the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, which is associated with dreaming. Halo then sends ultrasonic holograms to the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions, to stimulate lucid dreaming.
According to the company’s website, Halo uses a multi-modal AI model called Morpheus-1, which is trained on brain data from fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and EEG (electroencephalography) sensors. The AI model can also learn from the user’s preferences and feedback, and adjust the stimulation accordingly.
The company claims that lucid dreaming can have various benefits, such as enhancing creativity, overcoming fears, improving memory, and exploring the subconscious. Halo is designed to help users achieve these goals by allowing them to control their dreams and experience extraordinary scenarios.
Halo is currently in the testing phase, and the company is looking for volunteers to try out the device and provide feedback. The company plans to launch the device globally in the winter of 2025, with a price tag of $2000.
The idea of using AI to control dreams is not new, as researchers have already experimented with different methods, such as using electrical stimulation, audio cues, or virtual reality. However, Halo is the first device that uses ultrasound technology, which the company says is more precise and less invasive than other methods.
Halo is also one of the latest examples of how AI is expanding its influence in various domains of life, from entertainment to health to education. Some of the world’s biggest players in AI, such as Facebook and Google, have also expressed interest in developing their own mind-reading capabilities, using devices that can decode thoughts and translate them into speech or text.
However, the use of AI to access and manipulate the human mind also raises ethical and social concerns, such as privacy, consent, safety, and responsibility. Some critics have warned that such technologies could pose a threat to human dignity, autonomy, and identity, and could be abused for malicious purposes.
Therefore, it is important to have a careful and informed discussion about the potential benefits and risks of AI-based dream control, and to establish clear guidelines and regulations for its development and use.
Sources:
1: Psychosis, Dreams, and Memory in AI – Science in the News
2: AI and Dream Interpretation | Psychology Today
3: Mind-reading devices can now access your thoughts and dreams using AI – New Scientist
4: Prophetic Unveils AI-Powered Headband to Control Dreams – Cryptopolitan
