Implant equipped with artificial intelligence revives verbal communication in individual affected by paralysis over the past 18 years.
In a groundbreaking development, a high school teacher and coach, Ann Johnson, has regained her ability to speak after 18 years of near-total paralysis due to a brainstem stroke. This remarkable achievement was made possible by the use of an advanced AI-powered brain-computer interface (BCI), a technology that is revolutionizing the way stroke survivors and individuals with severe paralysis can communicate.
How it Works
The technology involves capturing neural activity from the brain, either through implanted or non-invasive devices. These devices detect the electrical signals associated with speech production, even when the person is unable to speak aloud. Advanced AI algorithms process these brain signals to interpret the intended speech, identifying patterns in brain activity that correspond to specific words or sounds. Once the brain signals are interpreted, the AI system synthesizes the corresponding speech, enabling nearly instantaneous communication.
Key Developments
Recent breakthroughs have enabled BCIs to decode "inner speech," allowing individuals to communicate without actively trying to speak. This is particularly beneficial for those with severe motor impairments. Researchers at institutions like UC Berkeley and UCSF have conducted clinical trials where AI-powered BCIs have successfully restored speech to individuals who suffered from severe paralysis due to strokes.
Continual improvements in BCI technology are being developed, with more sophisticated models that can decode brain activity with higher accuracy and speed. The goal of the research team is to make neuroprostheses "plug-and-play," turning them from experimental systems into standard clinical tools.
Successful Trials
A notable example of this technology's success is Ann Johnson. She was part of a clinical trial led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and UC San Francisco. The device used in the trial relies on an implant placed over the brain's speech production area. When Johnson attempts to speak, the implant detects neural activity and sends the signals to a connected computer. The system originally required an entire sentence before producing output, creating an eight-second delay. However, in March 2025, the team switched to a streaming architecture, allowing near-real-time translation with just a one-second delay.
The delay in speech production using the BCI has been reduced from 8 seconds to 1. The specific details of the BCI technology and the trial's progress are not provided. Future improvements could include wireless implants and photorealistic avatars for more natural interactions.
The BCI technology could potentially benefit a large number of individuals who have lost their ability to communicate due to neurological disorders or injuries. The team envisions digital "clones" that replicate not just a user's voice but also their conversational style and visual cues. This technology holds significant promise for enhancing the lives of those with speech impairments due to neurological conditions.
- Ann Johnson's ability to speak after 18 years of paralysis was made possible by an advanced AI-powered brain-computer interface (BCI), a technology that is revolutionizing health-and-wellness therapies and treatments by enabling communication for stroke survivors and individuals with severe paralysis.
- science advancements in BCI technology have enabled devices to decode "inner speech," and recent clinical trials have successfully restored speech to individuals with severe paralysis due to strokes, such as Ann Johnson who was part of a trial led by UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco.
- The BCI technology works by capturing neural activity from the brain using devices and advanced AI algorithms process these brain signals to interpret intended speech and synthesize the corresponding speech, enabling nearly instantaneous communication.
- Future developments in BCI technology could include wireless implants, photorealistic avatars, and digital "clones" that replicate not just a user's voice but also their conversational style and visual cues, bringing significant potential to enhance the lives of those with speech impairments due to neurological conditions.
