GoKawiilSleep headband maker Interaxon used customer brainwave data to train AI without clear disclosure
An investigation by Science and the Pulitzer Center's AI Accountability Network found that neurotechnology companies, including Muse headband maker Interaxon, have amassed tens of millions of hours of EEG recordings from customers and used them to build AI 'brain foundation models.' Interaxon confirmed it trained a model on roughly 50,000 hours of anonymized EEG data, though its privacy policy did not previously disclose this use explicitly; the company has since updated the policy after being contacted by reporters.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The findings suggest a broader pattern across the wearable-tech industry where sensitive biometric data is repurposed for AI development ahead of, or without, clear user consent. Because the disclosure came only after journalists raised questions, Interaxon and similar firms could face legal exposure from customers whose data was used before the policy change. The case underscores growing tension between the AI industry's hunger for specialized training data and existing privacy law frameworks, which were not designed with brainwave data in mind.
- Interaxon trained an AI model on about 50,000 hours of customers' EEG sleep data.
- The company's privacy policy did not clearly disclose this use until after journalists inquired.
- The investigation found this practice is common across multiple neurotechnology wearable companies.
Source: tomshardware.com — Newton Gitonga, 2026-11-09
Published there as: “Wearable sleep trackers are using your brainwaves to train AI models without explicit user consent”
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