Steam Founder Wants Inside Your Head

The battle for your brain just got a gaming giant

Image courtesy Valve

Hey everyone, it’s Cosmo.

Valve founder Gabe Newell is making his next big bet—and it's literally on your brain. His new venture, Starfish Neuroscience, has unveiled a custom ultra-low power chip designed to read and write neural signals directly.

What sets Starfish apart is their distributed approach. Rather than relying on a single implant, they're developing neural interfaces that can simultaneously interact with multiple brain regions. This multi-point strategy, they argue, is essential for addressing neurological disorders that stem from disrupted communication between different areas of the brain.

But let's be honest—does anyone believe this technology will remain confined to medical applications? Newell built one of the world's largest gaming empires. When this brain-computer interface technology matures, it could fundamentally reshape how we interact with digital worlds, potentially making today's touchscreens look as antiquated as punch cards.

The catch? Mass adoption hinges on one critical factor: the technology must remain both optional and non-invasive. Like many others, I draw a hard line at any computing technology that requires penetrating the body's natural barriers.

The timing couldn't be more striking. With Neuralink's recent ALS breakthrough and Apple backing brain-computer interfaces through their Synchron partnership, the field is reaching a tipping point. We're witnessing the early chapters of what once seemed purely science fiction.

The question isn't whether brain-computer interfaces will transform our world—it's whether we'll be ready for the transformation they bring.

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Thank you for reading. Till next week! 😊

Best,
Cosmo