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9h ago

Neuralink Implant Enables First Non-Verbal ALS Patient to Communicate Using Thought

Brad Smith, the third participant in Neuralink’s PRIME Study, now types and speaks in his own AI-cloned voice using a brain-computer interface.

Stock Image: A spinal implant chip from the Wings for Life Foundation at the University of Texas on March 7, 2024.
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Overview

  • Brad Smith, a non-verbal ALS patient, is the first of his condition and the third person overall to receive Neuralink's brain-computer interface implant.
  • The implant, equipped with 1,024 electrodes, allows Smith to control a computer cursor with his brain and communicate through thought-driven typing.
  • Smith's voice is replicated using AI, enabling him to speak in a cloned version of his pre-ALS voice for conversations and interactions.
  • Neuralink's robotic surgical system placed the device in Smith’s motor cortex, with Bluetooth-enabled communication between the implant and external devices.
  • The PRIME Study, aimed at validating the safety and utility of the technology for individuals with paralysis, continues as Neuralink seeks over $500 million in new funding.