As CES 2025 kicks off with its hallmark of cutting-edge innovation, this year’s awards spotlight an exciting trend: the rise of neurotechnology. In a particularly notable achievement, Earable Neuroscience’s Frenz Brainband—an AI-driven sleep wearable—has secured a coveted CES Innovation Award, hinting at a future where wearable tech plays a pivotal role in enhancing mental health and cognitive performance.
Earable Neuroscience’s Frenz Brainband is a groundbreaking device that offers personalized audio therapy by tracking real-time brainwave activity. The accolade marks the third consecutive year the product or its companion apps have received recognition, following a 2023 Wearable Tech award and a 2024 Accessibility and Aging Tech award. The spotlight for 2025 is on the Frenz Focus Flow app, a newly unveiled feature at CES.
The Frenz Brainband goes beyond traditional wearables by capturing a comprehensive array of biometric data—ranging from EEG brain signals to eye and facial movements. Similar to high-tech offerings from companies like Synchron and Neuralink, this device utilizes artificial intelligence to personalize interventions and optimize sleep cycles. Research indicates its clinical accuracy in sleep tracking, as well as its affordability and practicality for cognitive health purposes.
The eagerly anticipated Focus Flow app enhances the Brainband’s functionality by delivering tailored neurofeedback. This app tracks real-time brainwaves to improve concentration through specialized audio cues and frequencies, targeting specific areas of the brain, such as the frontal lobe. As the app undergoes testing at CES, it promises to monitor brain activity factors, including neuroplasticity, offering users valuable insights into their cognitive functions.
“Focus Flow represents a significant leap in our mission to leverage brainwave data for cognitive enhancement,” says Dr. Tam Vu, founder of Earable. Developed over two years with extensive research, the app has undergone more than 10,000 training sessions, amassing millions of samples. It aims to not only boost cognitive abilities but also deepen our understanding of brainwaves as indicators of mental well-being.
The recognition that Earable receives underscores a burgeoning interest in wearables as essential tools for health and wellness. From smart rings to advanced watches, these devices are increasingly capable of detecting emergencies, predicting illnesses, and even aiding in fertility diagnostics.
With these advancements, however, come growing concerns regarding data privacy and security. As these wearables delve deeper into collecting personal health information, the industry must navigate this complex landscape with care.
In addition to the Focus Flow app, Earable launched Frenz Brainwaves Labs at CES, a collaborative platform aimed at universities, pharmaceutical companies, and corporate wellness programs. Partners gain exclusive access to APIs and valuable data, enabling tailored algorithm developments and potentially positioning the Brainband as a crucial tool for cognitive health research.
According to Kimi Doan, Earable’s chief innovation officer, the Brainband is already being employed in researching a range of medical conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, stroke recovery, and pain management. As the technology continues to evolve, its potential applications in both healthcare and broader cognitive enhancement are vast, marking it as a significant player in the next wave of neurotechnology.