Hey, have you ever tried to let AI "read your mind"?
To be honest, when I first saw the NeuroSkill-BCI skill, my first reaction was: Wow, the brain directly connected to AI? That sounds too sci-fi! But after actually trying it out, I realized this thing is no gimmick. In simple terms, it allows AI to know in real time whether you are highly focused, relaxed, or about to fall asleep while you chat with it. For example, when I was coding at 2 a.m. and my brain was a mess, the AI actually said in a very gentle tone: "Maybe take a break? Your cognitive load is too high." That moment really broke me—even a machine understands me better than I do.
What exactly can it monitor?
Let me list it out for you. I was honestly shocked by the amount of data:
- Focus Level: How concentrated you are. When I’m writing proposals, it usually goes above 80%, but when I’m scrolling on my phone, it drops to 20%...
- Relaxation Level: A metric related to meditation. I tried closing my eyes secretly for 30 seconds at the office, and it surprisingly worked wonders.
- Emotional Tendency: Positive/negative dimension. The day I got scolded by my boss, the AI directly asked, "Are you okay?" — absolutely amazing.
- Cognitive Load: The pressure of your brain processing information. When work is overwhelming, the value spikes, and AI suggests simplifying tasks.
- Drowsiness Level: From alert to sleepy. I often see red after lunch, and the AI directly tells me to take a 15-minute nap.
- Heart Rate & HRV: Heart rate and heart rate variability. When stressed, HRV is low, and AI says, "Take a deep breath."
- Sleep Stages: If worn overnight, it can analyze your deep sleep, light sleep, and REM.
- 40+ Derived EXG Scores: Including attention stability, relaxation depth, emotional complexity, and more.
These data are collected through the NeuroSkill desktop application and then fed into the AI via this skill, just like giving the AI a "mental CT scanner."
How to start playing? Two-minute onboarding
Step 1: Get a device. I use the Muse 2 (it’s basically a headband, wearing it feels like a headband of restraint). OpenBCI is also an option, but it takes more time to calibrate. You can grab a used Muse S for a few hundred bucks on the second-hand market — great value.
Step 2: Install the NeuroSkill desktop application. Go to the official website and download the version for your system. After opening it, connect the device, and you’ll see "Connected" when successful. Remember to keep the application running at all times.
Step 3: Install this skill. Open the terminal and run one command:
npx skills add gquthier/clawg --skill neuroskill-bciOh, by the way, the first time you use it, it will ask for some permissions, like reading the local port. Just allow them.
Then open your AI assistant (I use Manus) and start a conversation. If everything is normal, you’ll see the AI occasionally mark its responses with hints like: "Detected user’s focus level is high, providing detailed information." You can even ask it, "How am I doing right now?" and it will give you a real-time report.
A few scenarios I can’t help but share
Scenario 1: Meditation Guidance. I usually get distracted during meditation. With this skill, the AI says, "Imagine your breath is like ocean waves," when my focus drops, and when my relaxation level spikes, it stays quiet. More considerate than any app.
Scenario 2: Efficient Work. While coding, the AI senses when I’m stuck (cognitive load suddenly increases) and proactively provides sample code. If I’m highly focused, it doesn’t disturb me, just stands by. I also set up a "drowsiness reminder": once the drowsiness level exceeds the threshold, the AI forces me to stand up and drink some water.
Scenario 3: Emotion Diary. After a few days of recording my emotional fluctuation curve, the AI generates a weekly report for me: "You had an emotional low on Tuesday afternoon, probably due to too many meetings; your highest focus was on Thursday afternoon, suitable for creative work." This analysis is more accurate than my mom.
Scenario 4: Sleep Monitoring. Wearing the Muse to sleep at night (though a bit uncomfortable), the AI tells me the next day that my deep sleep time is insufficient and suggests I avoid using my phone before bed. I tried it for three days, and indeed, my deep sleep ratio increased.
Notes (lessons learned the hard way)
- Always start the NeuroSkill desktop application before launching the AI, otherwise the skill will report an error and fail to connect.
- Make sure the device has enough battery. Last time, my Muse ran out of power mid-use, the data stream was interrupted, and the AI responses directly crashed, turning into a mess of garbled text.
- Brainwave signals are easily disturbed. Someone talking nearby or strong wind can affect accuracy. It’s best to use it in a quiet environment.
- Don’t rely too much on this data. After all, consumer-grade EEG devices have limited precision; treat it as a reference.
Anyway, I’m completely hooked. Now I even wear the Muse while writing articles. You know, when you see your focus level skyrocketing, that sense of achievement is more satisfying than playing games. And AI gradually understands you better — that feeling of "being understood" is really magical. If you also have a Muse or OpenBCI device, I strongly recommend giving this skill a try. It might open the door to a whole new world.
Oh, and some people worry about privacy — all data is processed locally and not uploaded to the cloud, so feel free to use it.
