Indian billionaire, doctors spar over $900 brain blood-flow tracker Temple
Promotional materials for the device, developed by Deepinder Goyal, say that its BrainFlow feature shows how well the brain is being supplied with blood in real time
An Indian billionaire, Deepinder Goyal, and doctors are in disagreement over a $900 wearable device called 'Temple'. Developed by Goyal, Temple is a small device, less than an inch wide and weighing under 2 grams, which can be worn on the temple. It features sensors to track blood flow to the brain and detect thermal, immune, digestive, cognitive, and emotional readings, aiming to enhance overall health monitoring. Celebrities such as Shubman Gill and P.V. Sindhu have endorsed the product.
However, several doctors have expressed skepticism regarding Temple's claims, stating that its capabilities are not supported by scientific research. Cyriac Philips, known as "TheLiverDoc", has been particularly critical, calling Temple the "biggest health scam" on his social media platform with 328,000 followers. Pediatrician and nephrologist Sanjeev Bagai also labeled Temple a "gimmick" during a prime-time TV show, asserting that it lacks formal approval or clearance.
Goyal has defended Temple, arguing that it is a fitness tracker and wellness device, not a medical one. He claims Temple is developing "new metrics" with emerging science, acknowledging that further research and regulatory approval might be necessary. Despite the controversy, Temple has garnered orders from over 62 countries since November 1 and has raised $54 million in February at a valuation of about $190 million.
Goyal recently resigned as CEO of Eternal, the parent company of India's largest food-delivery firm Zomato, to concentrate on Temple development.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
