From the Metaverse to Brain-Computer Interfaces: The Turning Point of Emerging Technology Industries in 2026
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As of January 2026, the technology industry is experiencing simultaneous innovations in three emerging technology areas: the metaverse, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), and spatial computing. According to the latest report from market research firm Gartner, the ‘next-generation human-computer interaction’ market, which encompasses these fields, is projected to grow from $120 billion in 2026 to $450 billion by 2030. Notably, these technologies have moved beyond the experimental stage and have entered the phase of actual commercial application.
In the metaverse sector, a practical approach centered around enterprise solutions began to dominate from the second half of 2025. California-based Meta announced that its metaverse division, Reality Labs, recorded $5.8 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025, a 78% increase compared to the same period the previous year. This growth is primarily attributed to the widespread corporate adoption of the Quest 3S headset and the commercial success of Horizon Workrooms. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, stated, “Our goal for 2026 is to fully transition the metaverse from consumer entertainment to a corporate productivity tool.”
This shift is directly influencing the strategies of competitors. Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, secured a 23% share of the enterprise mixed reality market in 2025 through its Mesh for Teams platform, based on HoloLens technology. Simultaneously, Cupertino, California-based Apple sold 1.8 million units of its Vision Pro within a year of launch, establishing a unique position in the high-end premium market. Apple announced plans to release a more affordable model, ‘Vision SE,’ priced at $1,999, in the first half of 2026.
Brain-Computer Interfaces: Expanding from Healthcare to Consumer Markets
The brain-computer interface sector is reaching a turning point in 2026, transitioning from medical therapeutic tools to consumer wellness devices. Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, received limited FDA approval in December 2025 for implants treating depression and is currently conducting clinical trials with 10 patients. Initial results from Neuralink indicate an average 67% improvement in patients’ depression symptoms, with minimal reported side effects.
However, from a commercial perspective, the advancement of non-invasive BCI technology is garnering more attention. San Francisco-based startup Kernel launched the consumer brainwave monitoring headband ‘Flow 3.0’ in January 2026. Priced at $299, this product aims to improve meditation, sleep quality, and cognitive abilities, with 50,000 units pre-ordered in the first week of release. Kernel’s CEO, Bryan Johnson, explained, “Our goal is to make BCI an everyday wellness tool, like a smartwatch.”
Established tech giants are also actively entering this market. Qualcomm, based in San Diego, California, announced the ‘Neural Processing Unit 8000’ chipset dedicated to brainwave signal processing in November 2025. This chipset reduces power consumption by 70% while enhancing real-time brainwave analysis performance by 300%. Qualcomm plans to leverage this technology to launch BCI solutions that can be integrated into smartphones and wearable devices in the second half of 2026.
According to analysis by market research firm IDC, the consumer BCI market is expected to grow rapidly from $1.2 billion in 2026 to $18 billion by 2030. The key drivers of this growth are increased interest in mental health and the expanding demand for personalized wellness solutions. Particularly among Gen Z and Millennials, there is a sharp rise in interest in brain health monitoring, which is expected to accelerate the popularization of BCI technology.
The Fusion of Spatial Computing and AI: A New Interaction Paradigm
In the field of spatial computing, innovation through the fusion with artificial intelligence is accelerating. NVIDIA, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, unveiled the ‘Omniverse Spatial AI’ platform at CES in January 2026, which enables real-time 3D environment recognition and AI-based object interaction. This platform goes beyond simple spatial mapping to provide a next-generation spatial computing experience that predicts user intent and actively responds to the environment.
NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, emphasized, “The future of spatial computing is not just about placing digital objects in physical space, but about AI understanding and interactively predicting user and environmental needs.” In early demonstrations using Omniverse Spatial AI, users were shown performing complex 3D modeling tasks with simple gestures, with AI understanding user intent and automatically completing designs.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics announced its self-developed spatial computing platform ‘Galaxy Spatial’ in December 2025. This platform connects Samsung’s smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs into a unified spatial computing environment. A representative from Samsung Electronics’ MX Division explained, “The key differentiator of Galaxy Spatial is providing a spatial computing experience using existing devices without the need for separate headsets.” Samsung plans to apply this technology first to the Galaxy S26 series, scheduled for release in the first half of 2026.
Sony, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is also taking a unique approach in the spatial computing market. Sony is developing the ‘PlayStation Spatial Reality’ platform, which combines its strengths in sensor technology and entertainment content. This platform aims to allow existing PlayStation games to be enjoyed in physical space, with a beta service launch targeted for the second half of 2026. A representative from Sony Interactive Entertainment stated, “Our goal is to completely blur the boundaries between games and reality.”
Behind these technological advancements is the rapid improvement in hardware performance. Particularly, the AI computing power of mobile processors has increased by 400% compared to 2025, enabling real-time processing of complex spatial computing tasks. Market research firm Canalys announced that the spatial computing-related hardware market is projected to grow from $34 billion in 2026 to $125 billion by 2030.
However, alongside the development of these emerging technologies, new challenges are also emerging. Concerns related to privacy are the most significant issue, especially for BCI technology, where ethical standards for the collection and use of brainwave data are not yet clearly established. The European Union plans to enact the ‘Neural Data Protection Regulation’ in March 2026, which will classify brainwave data as biometric information and apply strict protection standards.
The lack of technical standardization is also acting as a factor hindering market growth. Currently, companies are developing their own platforms and protocols, resulting in a lack of interoperability. In response, IEEE announced plans to release international standards for the metaverse and spatial computing fields in the first half of 2026. Once these standardization efforts are completed, collaboration and technological convergence between companies are expected to become more active.
From an investment perspective, interest in emerging technology sectors from venture capitalists is rapidly increasing. As of the fourth quarter of 2025, a total of $28 billion was invested in the metaverse, BCI, and spatial computing sectors, a 165% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Particularly, investments in Series A stage startups have significantly increased, indicating a rapid expansion of the ecosystem in these fields.
Throughout 2026, these emerging technology sectors are expected to experience even more intense competition and rapid innovation. Particularly in the second half of the year, with the launch of Apple’s Vision SE, the commercialization of Samsung’s Galaxy Spatial, and the launch of consumer products by numerous BCI startups, significant changes in the market landscape are anticipated. These changes are likely to be a turning point that fundamentally alters the way humans interact with technology, beyond merely the introduction of new products.
Ultimately, 2026 is expected to be recorded as the year when these emerging technologies move beyond the experimental stage to create actual business value. Companies are in a situation where they must simultaneously address multidimensional challenges, including securing technological superiority, optimizing user experience, adhering to ethical standards, and building sustainable business models. Companies that successfully overcome these challenges will seize the leadership in the next-generation technology ecosystem.
