Temple Controversy: Why Deepinder Goyal Is Asking for Patience, Not Hype

Zomato founder and Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal has publicly defended Temple, an experimental wearable device he has been researching, after doctors and influencers criticized the prototype’s scientific credibility. Goyal clarified that Temple is not a commercial health device, has no publicly released data, and remains months away from any potential preview — if it moves toward market at all.

In a social media post addressed to “concerned doctors and/or influencers,” Goyal noted that no announcements, benchmarking data, or sales timelines exist for Temple and called it “funny” that people were advising others not to buy something that cannot be ordered or pre-ordered in the first place.

Gentle reminder to all the concerned doctors and/or influencers

We haven’t made any public commercial announcements about Temple yet. We haven’t released any official device benchmarking data. A lot of the work is still underway; we’re months away from introducing preview… pic.twitter.com/WHkdiv6hfW

— Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) January 9, 2026

What Is Temple and Why Did It Spark Buzz? 

Temple first attracted attention when Goyal wore it during a high-profile appearance on the Raj Shamani Figuring Out podcast. The clip-like sensor, worn on the temple region, is described by Goyal as a wearable that can measure blood flow to the brain in real time — a frontier rarely explored in consumer tech.

The device is linked to Goyal’s research into the “Gravity Ageing Hypothesis,” which proposes that gravitational effects on cerebral circulation could influence ageing. Reports suggest Goyal has invested around $25 million (≈ ₹225 crore) of personal capital into the project through a research initiative called Continue Research.

Despite the fascination — and memes — Temple remains a prototype, not a commercial product. There are currently:
• no regulatory approvals,
• no peer-reviewed clinical data,
• no medical device classification, and
• no official performance benchmarks.

Why Are Doctors Skeptical?

The buzz around Temple brought scrutiny from the medical community leading to a huge controversy. 

Scientific Concerns

Radiologists, neurologists, and AIIMS-trained doctors cautioned against interpreting Temple as a validated medical wearable. Some described it as having “zero scientific standing” and highlighted the absence of clinical trials, peer-review, or third-party testing.

One neurologist noted that changes in cerebral blood flow are typically measured in hospitals for strokes, trauma, or critical neurological assessment — not as part of wellness tracking — and warned that consumer applications remain unproven without evidence.

Social Media Hype

Outside the medical sphere, social media added its own layer of chaos. Memes labeled the prototype everything from an “external SSD” to “mind jewelry,” making it harder to separate curiosity from substance.

Goyal’s Position: Research First, Commercialization Later

In his clarification, Goyal emphasized that:
✔ Temple is experimental research, not a commercial tech product.
✔ Validation and data will be released only if commercialization makes sense.
✔ Skepticism is useful — but should be applied after evidence, not before it exists.

He argued that public discourse often jumps ahead of scientific timelines, while scientists and researchers typically publish only once data is conclusive.

Innovation vs Evidence: The Larger Health-Tech Question

Temple highlights a broader tension in emerging health-tech in India and globally:
• Entrepreneurs push into frontier science with personal capital and curiosity.
• Scientists demand evidence, trials, and peer review before claims can solidify.
• Public audiences now track prototypes long before they become products.

If Temple eventually produces validated data and independent testing, it could open a new category in wearable brain-health technology. Until then, its role is best understood as research, not a consumer wellness solution.

Temple: What We Know, What’s Unknown, and What Comes Next

Q: Is the Temple device for sale?
No. Temple is not for sale, pre-order, or public preview.

Q: Is Temple medically validated?
No. No clinical or peer-reviewed data has been released to date.

Q: What does the Temple device do?
It aims to measure cerebral blood flow in real time, but remains experimental.

Q: Who is funding Temple?
Goyal has reportedly invested ~$25M of personal funds into its research.

The Takeaway for Health-Tech & Startups

Temple highlights a growing dynamic in Indian innovation: founders funding frontier research before markets exist. The device will ultimately be judged not by buzz, memes, or criticism, but by published data and validation. If Eternal’s research holds up, Temple could reshape how wearables approach brain health. If not, it will still mark an important moment in India’s shift toward entrepreneurial science.