Scientists have developed a brain-computer interface that can translate thoughts about speech into spoken words in real time. The device was tested on a woman with quadriplegia who had not been able to speak for 18 years after a stroke. The device converts her intent to speak into fluent sentences without a delay, unlike other existing devices that may disrupt conversation flow.
The device works by recording the woman’s brain activity while she silently speaks sentences in her brain. A synthesizer was used to create speech sounds based on her pre-injury voice, and an AI model translates neural activity into units of sound. This allows for a streaming approach where speech is decoded in real time, with each small chunk of speech processed as it is spoken.
The potential of this technology is significant as it could help give voice to those unable to speak, if further research and development are conducted. The device was partially funded by the National Institutes of Health and could potentially be available to patients within a decade with sustained investments. This advancement has been considered a big breakthrough in the field of brain-computer interfaces for speech.
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