Tools & Platforms
DataBahn.ai Announces New Chief Security and Strategy Officer and Two New Sales Leaders » Dallas Innovates
Left to right: Preston Wood, Payman Faed, and Trevor Crompton [Photos: DataBahn]
DataBahn.ai has appointed Preston Wood as chief security and strategy officer of the Dallas-based provider of a security-native data pipeline platform built for modern enterprise workloads.
Wood brings 25 years of leadership experience in cybersecurity to his new role. He will help drive DataBahn’s mission to transform security data management and enable intelligent automation across global enterprises, the company said.
“I’ve always believed that security and IT teams need the right data, at the right time—enriched with context and real-time analytics—to make smarter, faster decisions,” Wood said in a statement. “DataBahn’s platform is uniquely positioned to solve persistent challenges in data discovery, ingestion, and real-time visibility. I’m excited to join a team so deeply focused on customer success and innovation, and I look forward to helping advance DataBahn’s mission to deliver secure, intelligent, and highly scalable data solutions.”
Wood has served as a three-time chief information security officer and two-time chief technology officer at major financial institutions, including Zions Bancorporation, Bank of the West, and City National Bank. The company said that Wood is known for aligning security and technology strategies with business goals, and he has led the development of robust security frameworks, real-time threat detection programs, and advanced analytics initiatives.
At DataBahn.ai, Wood will partner with engineering and product teams to expand the platform’s strategic vision and deepen customer relationships, the company said.
Wood will lead the development of next-generation solutions, such as intelligent, AI-powered Data Broker workflows, that bring automation, context, and precision to enterprise-scale data orchestration, the company said. DataBahn said that Wood will draw on his dual experience as CISO and CTO in serving a dual role: evangelizing DataBahn’s innovation to enterprise customers while channeling next-generation customer requirements back into the product roadmap.
Sales leadership additions
In addition to Wood, DataBahn.ai said it strengthened its go-to-market capabilities with two key sales leadership appointments.
Payman Faed joins as SVP of sales, West, bringing over 15 years of enterprise cybersecurity sales and leadership experience. He has held senior roles at leading MDR and SIEM providers, including Lumifi and Castra. Faed is recognized for building high-performing teams and scaling partner-first go-to-market strategies, the company said.
At DataBahn, Faed will oversee strategic accounts across the Western U.S., accelerate national expansion, and lead a team of account executives focused on customer value and revenue growth.
Trevor Crompton has been appointed vice president of sales, EMEA. Crompton has more than 30 years in the IT industry—nearly half spent building and leading startup organizations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa—and he brings deep expertise in helping security professionals gain visibility into complex data environments.
At DataBahn.ai, Crompton will lead the company’s expansion in EMEA, helping customers address growing data complexity while reducing storage costs and simplifying operations.
“With the addition of Preston, Payman, and Trevor, we’re assembling a powerhouse leadership team that combines technical excellence, deep customer empathy, and proven go-to-market execution,” Nanda Santhana, co-founder and CEO of DataBahn.ai, said in a statement. “Their collective experience across security, data management, and global GTM strategy positions us to accelerate our growth and deliver even greater value to enterprises worldwide.”
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Tools & Platforms
Noninvasive brain technology allows control of robotic hands with thought
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Noninvasive brain tech is transforming how people interact with robotic devices. Instead of relying on muscle movement, this technology allows a person to control a robotic hand by simply thinking about moving his fingers.
No surgery is required.
Instead, a set of sensors is placed on the scalp to detect brain signals. These signals are then sent to a computer. As a result, this approach is safe and accessible. It opens new possibilities for people with motor impairments or those recovering from injuries.
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PARALYZED MAN SPEAKS AND SINGS WITH AI BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE
A woman wearing non-invasive brain technology (Carnegie Mellon University)
How noninvasive brain tech turns thought into action
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have made significant progress with noninvasive brain technology. They use electroencephalography (EEG) to detect the brain’s electrical activity when someone thinks about moving a finger. Artificial intelligence, specifically deep learning algorithms, then decodes these signals and translates them into commands for a robotic hand. In their study, participants managed to move two or even three robotic fingers at once, just by imagining the motion. The system achieved over 80% accuracy for two-finger tasks. For three-finger tasks, accuracy was over 60%. All of this happened in real time.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
Meeting the challenge of finger-level control
Achieving separate movement for each robotic finger is a real challenge. The brain areas responsible for finger movement are small. Their signals often overlap, which makes it hard to distinguish between them. However, advances in noninvasive brain technology and deep learning have made it possible to pick up on these subtle differences.
The research team used a neural network called EEGNet. They fine-tuned it for each participant. Because of this, the system allowed for smooth, natural control of the robotic fingers. The movements closely matched how a real hand works.
A robotic finger being controlled by non-invasive brain technology (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why noninvasive brain tech matters for everyday life
For people with limited hand function, even small improvements can make a huge difference. Noninvasive brain technology eliminates the need for surgery because the system is external and easy to use. In addition, this technology provides natural and intuitive control. It enables a person to move a robotic hand by simply thinking about the corresponding finger movements.
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The accessibility of noninvasive brain technology means it can be used in clinics and homes and by a wide range of people. For example, it enables participation in everyday tasks, such as typing or picking up small objects that might otherwise be difficult or impossible to perform. This approach can benefit stroke survivors and people with spinal cord injuries. It can also help anyone interested in enhancing their abilities.
What’s next for noninvasive brain tech?
While the progress is exciting, there are still challenges ahead. Noninvasive brain technology needs to improve even further at filtering out noise and adapting to individual differences. However, with ongoing advances in deep learning and sensor technology, these systems are becoming more reliable and easier to use. Researchers are already working to expand the technology for more complex tasks.
As a result, assistive robotics could soon become a part of more homes and workplaces.
Illustration of how the noninvasive brain technology works (Carnegie Mellon University)
Kurt’s key takeaways
Noninvasive brain technology is opening up possibilities that once seemed out of reach. The idea of moving a robotic hand just by thinking about it could make daily life easier and more independent for many people. As researchers continue to improve these systems, it will be interesting to see how this technology shapes the way we interact with the world around us.
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Tools & Platforms
Korea’s game studios rebrand as AI tech firms, with stints at fashion, robotics, media
What was once a world of elves, dragons and power-ups is now giving rise to one of South Korea’s most unexpected tech revolutions, with game studios taking their place alongside Big Tech in the race for AI dominance.
The country’s gaming heavyweights are increasingly shedding their image as pure entertainment companies and positioning themselves as AI-first tech firms, expanding far beyond the virtual battlegrounds into sectors such as fashion, media and even robotics.
Facing a slowing gaming market and rising development costs, game developers and publishers such as NCSOFT Corp., Nexon Co. and Krafton Inc. are leveraging their proprietary AI tools and massive gameplay data troves to build new growth engines, applying gaming-derived machine intelligence to real-world industries.
“We’re no longer just competing for players’ time, but for a stake in the future of applied AI,” said an executive at a domestic game firm.
FROM MMORPGs TO 3D MODELS, FASHION AI
Few illustrate this transition better than NCSOFT, which in February spun off its AI division into a standalone subsidiary, NC AI.
The unit is set to launch Varco 3D at the end of July – a software tool that can generate high-quality 3D characters using nothing more than text or image prompts.
The product will be offered via a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model and targets users far beyond traditional game development, from virtual influencers to digital fashion brands, according to company officials.
The move follows NCSOFT’s development in 2023 of Varco, Korea’s first large language model (LLM) developed by a game company.
The company now provides Varco Art Fashion, an AI-powered tool that generates apparel designs and visual prototypes. The tool has already been adopted by 10 leading fashion firms, halving new product development times, according to NCSOFT.
“We see an opportunity to disrupt the fashion and content production pipelines using tools originally built for game development,” said an NC AI official.
The company also provides generative engines to media firms, allowing for automatic content production and editing.
PREDICTING THE NEXT BIG HIT, OR MISS
Nexon, which owns game-developing studio Nexon Games Co., is taking a different path: using AI to forecast the commercial success of upcoming games.
At the Nexon Developers Conference (NDC25) last month, the firm unveiled its Game Success Prediction AI, designed to sift through early gameplay patterns and metadata to identify breakout potential.
“Sometimes, high-quality games are overlooked,” said Oh Jin-wook, head of Nexon’s Intelligence Labs Group. “AI can help uncover hidden gems, allowing us to take more creative risks.”
His argument is backed by data.
According to global gaming platform Steam, 84% of titles released on its platform last year failed to even register meaningful sales.
Nexon said AI can help de-risk game development by offering early signals from pre-launch user testing.
TAKING AI INTO THE PHYSICAL REALM
Krafton, best known for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), is taking AI into the physical realm.
In April, Krafton Chief Executive Kim Changhan met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to discuss collaboration on humanoid robotics, building on their previous partnership to co-develop non-player character AI.
Krafton recently launched a Physical AI team, tasked with adapting in-game character AI for robotic applications. The goal: to use virtual intelligence as the foundation for real-world robotic “brains.”
Unlike software AI such as ChatGPT, physical AI focuses on decision-making for physical tasks such as picking up or moving objects.
ESCAPING THE GAMING RUT
Analysts said at the heart of this AI pivot is a strategic response to a cooling domestic gaming market.
Rising development costs and a lack of global blockbusters have dragged down growth.
According to the Korea Creative Content Agency, the nation’s gaming user rate fell to a record low of 59.9% in 2024.
The threat isn’t just rival games – it’s YouTube, TikTok and other attention-gobbling apps.
Nexon Games CEO Park Yong-hyun named non-gaming platforms as the biggest threat to the gaming industry.
According to mobile analytics firm Mobile Index, Koreans spent over 140 minutes a day on YouTube as of March, outpacing daily game playtime by a wide margin.
Experts say Korean game developers are uniquely positioned to scale into the broader AI economy.
The industry has accumulated years of player behavior data and developed highly advanced simulation environments – ideal conditions for training AI.
“Games are structured, interactive ecosystems with clear rules and goals, perfect for developing and testing AI models,” said Wi Jong-hyun, president of the Korea Game Society and a professor at Chung-Ang University. “It’s only natural that these companies are now leading Korea’s AI transition.”
Write to Young-Chong Choi at youngchoi@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.
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