In a remarkable display of technological advancement, a patient living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has successfully used a brain implant to command Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant with his thoughts. The implant, developed by Synchron, a brain-computer interface company, was placed in a blood vessel on the surface of the 64-year-old man’s brain, allowing him to mentally “tap” icons on an Amazon Fire tablet.
The patient, identified only as Mark, has experienced a significant restoration of independence thanks to this innovative technology. With the implant, he can now make video calls, play music, stream shows, control smart home devices like lights, shop online, and read books – all by simply thinking about it.
“To be able to manage important aspects of my environment and control access to entertainment gives me back the independence that I’m losing,” Mark expressed in a statement.
Synchron’s demonstration aimed to showcase how customers could utilize their thoughts to operate smart homes equipped with Alexa-compatible devices, such as door cameras, plugs, and thermostats. As Synchron’s founder and CEO, Tom Oxley, emphasized, “While many smart home systems rely on voice or touch, we are sending control signals directly from the brain.”
“Patients can interact with devices in their home hands and voice-free, using only their thoughts,” he added.
This breakthrough follows a similar development by Elon Musk’s Neuralink, another company at the forefront of brain-computer interface technology. Earlier this year, Neuralink successfully implanted a device in a man who had become paralyzed after a diving accident.
Musk, also known for his companies Tesla and X, has hailed the implant as a success. In July, he announced that Neuralink is moving on to its second test patient as their technology continues to advance.
The development of brain-computer interfaces holds immense potential for individuals with disabilities, offering a path towards greater independence and improved quality of life. As these technologies continue to evolve, they promise to revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us.
