OSAKA - A Japanese startup founded at Osaka University is preparing to begin clinical trials of a brain-computer interface in 2027, aiming to enable patients with severe physical disabilities to communicate and operate electronic devices using only their thoughts, with commercialization targeted for around 2030.
The technology, known as a brain-computer interface (BCI), detects electrical signals generated by the brain and converts them into commands that can control computers and other equipment without physical movement.
The development is among the major technological advances highlighted in Nikkei BP's predictions for 2027, which examine how artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and economic changes could reshape Japan and the wider world.
A demonstration of the technology showed two men playing rock-paper-scissors, with a computer determining its response based on the thoughts of one participant rather than through conventional controls. The demonstration illustrated how brain signals could be interpreted and translated into computer commands.
In the United States, Neuralink, the brain technology company led by Elon Musk, is already conducting human clinical trials of implanted brain-computer interfaces.
Japan is also entering the field through G-Med, a startup originating from Osaka University that is developing a sheet-shaped device designed to measure electrical activity directly from the brain.
The device is implanted inside the skull, where it detects brain signals that are subsequently analyzed and converted into instructions for external equipment.
For example, when a patient thinks about closing their hand, the system can recognize the corresponding brain signal and convert it into a mouse-click command. By combining this function with a cursor that moves sequentially through a Japanese character selection grid, the technology could allow patients to select characters and communicate without physically operating a computer.
The company hopes the system will provide a new means of communication for patients who remain conscious and retain their senses but cannot move their bodies or communicate through conventional methods.
Its developers also envision applications that could help patients operate equipment to support their daily lives, potentially providing greater independence for people with severe mobility impairments.
G-Med is preparing to begin clinical trials as early as 2027, marking an important step toward bringing the technology into medical practice. The company currently expects its product to become available around 2030, although commercialization will depend on the results of clinical testing and subsequent development.
The brain-computer interface is one of 10 major developments identified by Nikkei BP in its outlook for 2027, which draws on expertise from its publishing, research and technology divisions to assess changes likely to affect business and society.
Among its broader predictions is a shift in the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, as increasingly capable AI systems raise questions about the future role of human intelligence and the meaning of human work. The report suggests that AI could fundamentally change how companies operate and how people understand their place in society.
Another major concern is the sustainability of economic growth driven by borrowing and financial leverage. The report points to more than 200 trillion yen in hidden liabilities, including lease obligations and other commitments that may not be fully reflected on corporate balance sheets, warning that economic expansion supported by increasingly complex financial arrangements could be approaching its limits.
Companies that have concentrated investment heavily in artificial intelligence may also face pressure to reconsider their strategies as financial constraints and the enormous electricity requirements of AI infrastructure become more apparent. Nikkei BP predicts that access to electricity will become an increasingly important factor in determining global economic and technological leadership.
In consumer markets, the report highlights longevity as a major growth opportunity, with scientific advances making it increasingly possible to measure biological age rather than relying solely on chronological age. The ability to monitor and potentially influence the aging process is expected to create new markets for healthcare products, technologies and services.
While many of the predictions concern major economic and technological shifts, brain-computer interfaces offer a particularly direct example of how emerging technology could improve everyday life.
For patients unable to speak or move, the ability to communicate through brain signals could provide a new connection to the outside world, making 2027 a potentially significant year in the development of technology that allows people to control devices simply by thinking.
Source: テレ東BIZ
