The American company Synchron, which develops brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies to restore motor functions in paralyzed people, announced the integration of a system for generative artificial intelligence from OpenAI in its platform. This will allow patients with severe paralysis to interact with other people with the power of thought.
A neural interface chatbot powered by AI from the creator of ChatGPT will simplify the communication process for users. The system can generate automatic advice in text and audio format in real time, taking into account the context and emotional state of the user (the system accepts text, audio and graphic data) and offers optimal options for phrases. That is, AI will assist in writing with the power of thought, predicting what a person would want to say in a given situation and offering several options for words or phrases to choose from - a kind of advanced T9.
The company has already tested the technology on a patient who had previously received a BCI. The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patient named Mark, who received a Synchron implant last year, has been periodically testing the new AI chatbot feature for the past two months. According to him, this helps him save valuable time and energy when communicating with his loved ones. Using a BCI requires focus and practice, so Mark says AI helps take some of the stress out of responding to messages.
Tom Oxley, CEO and founder of Synchron, emphasized the importance of this integration: “Our patients have lost the ability to perform any activities due to neurological diseases. Generative AI can suggest options that are contextually relevant to the environment, and BCI will allow a human to make a choice based on a specific clue. The system essentially preserves the basic human right to freedom of expression and autonomy.
The Synchron device is implanted into the blood vessels on the surface of the motor cortex through the jugular vein through a minimally invasive endovascular procedure. Once implanted, the device can detect and wirelessly transmit motor intentions from the brain, allowing paralyzed people to operate personal devices hands-free, as if by pointing a mouse pointer and clicking options. Likewise, a person will be able to select words and phrases suggested by AI. It is important to note that the Synchron platform will not transmit human brain signals to the OpenAI server - the company's own platform in the AWS cloud is used.
Synchron's updated BCI platform, now with generative AI, will allow patients to write at a more natural speed and thus significantly improve the quality of communication. This is a first-in-class commercial product that will help millions of people with upper limb disabilities stay connected to the world.