Kernel (neurotechnology company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Neurotechnology |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Bryan Johnson |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Neuroimaging devices (Flux, Flow), Sound ID software |
| Owner | Bryan Johnson (privately owned) |
| Website | kernel |
HI, LLC, operating under the trade name Kernel, is a U.S.-based neurotechnology firm that focuses on developing non-invasive neuroimaging solutions. Established in 2016 by Bryan Johnson, this privately owned company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
History
In 2016, Bryan Johnson founded Kernel with an initial capital injection of $54 million, concentrating at first on neuroprosthetic devices designed to replicate or support brain functions through implantation.
By May 2020, Kernel introduced two devices for monitoring brain activity: Flux and Flow. The Flow device offers capabilities for both visualizing and recording neural signals. Additionally, Kernel created "Sound ID," a software tool that can detect speech or music from neural data. The company was prominently featured in the 2020 documentary I Am Human, which explores progress in brain–machine interface technology. Later that year, Kernel raised $53 million to further develop its neuroscience innovations aimed at commercial applications.
Kernel Flow
Kernel Flow is a wearable system utilizing time-domain functional near-infrared spectroscopy (TD-fNIRS) technology. It operates by emitting infrared light to track variations in blood oxygenation as an indirect measure of brain activity, sampling data at 200 Hz. Although fNIRS spatial resolution is constrained by light scattering, most devices—including Kernel Flow—achieve spatial precision exceeding 2 cm.
Operations
Kernel’s mission centers on creating technologies capable of interpreting and influencing fundamental brain functions. By 2019, the company’s efforts targeted neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, depression, and anxiety. Kernel competes with other entities like Neuralink, Precision Neuroscience, Synchron, and Facebook, all working on advancing brain-computer interface systems. Moreover, Kernel offers neuroscience-related services to academic researchers and commercial clients, performing participant testing within its own laboratories.