When Eric Wollberg and Wesley Berry came together to found Prophetic, they had a shared fascination with the potential of brain-imaging tools to unlock the mysteries of the human mind. Wollberg was captivated by the idea of using lucid dreams to explore consciousness, while Berry was already working on translating neural signals into art with musician Grimes. Together, they set out to create what they claim is the “world’s first wearable device for stabilizing lucid dreams.”
The device, called the “Halo,” is a headband-like apparatus that emits focused ultrasound signals. Lucid dreams occur when a person becomes aware that they are dreaming and can even exert control over the dream. The Halo aims to enhance this experience by stabilizing and potentially extending periods of lucidity.
To bring their vision to life, Prophetic has partnered with Card79, the company responsible for designing and building hardware for Elon Musk’s Neuralink. This collaboration will allow Prophetic to prototype a noninvasive version of the Halo.
Prophetic’s work in AI hardware comes at a time when other companies are also investing in wearables. Humane AI, founded by former Apple employees, recently debuted their AI Pin at Paris Fashion Week. Additionally, Jony Ive, the famed designer of the iPhone, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, are reportedly discussing their own AI hardware project.
However, Prophetic is aware that they still have a long road ahead. While they plan to showcase a semi-working prototype soon, the full test of the Halo will have to wait until the conclusion of a yearlong brain imaging study in partnership with Radboud University’s Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour in the Netherlands.
Despite the challenges, Wollberg and Berry are committed to the grand vision of Prophetic. They see the company as a collective effort to understand consciousness, comparing it to the esteemed OpenAI. Their LinkedIn page boldly states, “Prometheus stole fire from the gods, we will steal dreams from the prophets.”
Looking forward, Prophetic aims to deliver on its promises by shipping devices starting in spring 2025. However, with a fully working prototype still a year away, they have a lot of work ahead of them. But for Wollberg and Berry, the pursuit of understanding consciousness is worth the wait.
“We believe that the exploration of the mind and our dreams has the potential to unlock new realms of human experience,” says Wollberg. “Our dream is to make that experience more accessible and enriching for everyone.”
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