These New Headphones Use AI to Read Your Mind (No, Really)

They use AI to monitor your brain activity, track focus and (hopefully) help you be more productive.

Neurable x Master & Dynamic MW75 headphones

Published September 24, 2024

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AI has infiltrated most gadgets in our lives these days, including our headphones. It’s been used in headphones for features like adaptive noise cancellation, personal sound optimization, and conversation modes (to isolate a single voice in a crowd).

Now, it’s going one big step further. These new headphones use AI to read your mind. No, really — it’s crazy.

Meet the MW75 Neuro

MW75 Neuro

Noise canceling, mind reading

The MW75 Neuro headphones are a joint collaboration between Neurable, an AI company that uses electroencephalography (EEG) technology to track brain activity, and the New York based audio company Master & Dynamic.

On the surface, the MW75 Neuro are almost identical to M&D’s flagship MW75 noise-canceling headphones, which retail for $599. The key difference is that they have dry fabric earcups (instead of leather) that are integrated with Neurable’s EEG sensors.

With these sensors, the MW75 Neuro can’t tell what you’re thinking. Instead, the headphones monitor your brain activity with the specific goal of tracking your focus. The idea is that headphones can show you how focused you are throughout the day, as well as tell you when your brain is tired and might need a break.

In the end, Neurable is positioning its AI as a productivity feature.

Focus levels, baby

The MW75 Neuro headphones do all the AI processing on device (thanks to a new ARM processor and updated electronics). According to Neurable, the headphones are able to analyze and interpret your brain signals with “lab-level accuracy.” You can then see the results in the Neurable app.

The app gives you points depending on your focus level — high (3), medium (2), and low (1) — and makes a game out of it with the goal of accumulating the most points throughout the day. You can then monitor your focus levels over time to see how and under which circumstances you’re the most (and least) productive.

You can check your focus levels on the Neurable app and compare them to different times of the day and week.

For the most part, the EEG sensors, AI system and app run unnoticed in the background — you do have to first initiate a focus session if you want it to monitor your brain activity, however. The app will occasionally send you push or voice notifications if it detects you need to take a break from your work.

The headphones are primarily aimed at people who wear headphones while they work. However, Neurable says these AI features can also be used to track focus while gaming, meditating or doing other activities.

Neurable app 2 — The Neurable app gives you focus scores and allows you to track your performance over time.

Of course, the main downside to monitoring your focus levels is the impact on battery life. With ANC and focus tracking both on, the MW75 Neuro promise around 8 hours of battery life. With just ANC on, they are rated at 28 hours.

For times when you don’t want to track your focus, the MW75 Neuro headphones work almost identically as the MW75. They have the same noise-cancellation and transparency modes, as well as customizable EQ settings via the M&D Connect app.

Price and availability

The MW75 Neuro headphones are available for preorder now with an expected ship date of between six and eight weeks. They cost $699, which is a $100 increase from Master & Dynamic’s $599 MW75.

You can order now from Master & Dynamic or Neurable’s websites, but each has advantages. Neurable offers the MW75 Neuro in all four finishes (silver, onyx, navy, and olive), while Master & Dynamic offers only two (silver and onyx).

However, Master & Dynamic will throw in a pair of its lambskin leather earpads — just like the ones that come on its MW75 — if you preorder through them.