Paralyzed Patient Controls Alexa With Thoughts Via Brain Implant

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Paralyzed Patient Controls Alexa With Thoughts Via Brain Implant

Reading time: 2 min

Updated on Sep 17, 2024

  • Kiara Fabbri

    Written by: Kiara Fabbri Multimedia Journalist

  • Justyn Newman

    Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Head Content Manager

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • ALS patient uses Synchron BCI to control Alexa with thoughts.
  • Synchron’s BCI allows him to manage smart home devices hands-free.
  • The implant detects neural signals via the jugular vein, aiding independence.

Synchron, a brain-computer interface (BCI) company, announced that one of its patients has successfully used Amazon’s Alexa through the Synchron BCI, as reported by Business Wire.

Mark, a 64-year-old ALS patient, controlled his smart home devices using his thoughts via the Tap to Alexa feature on his Amazon Fire tablet.

This allows him to perform actions like turning the lights on and off, watching TV, making video calls, playing music, controlling his Ring security camera, reading books on Kindle, and shopping on Amazon.

Mark commented, “To be able to manage important aspects of my environment and control access to entertainment gives me back the independence that I’m losing,” as reported by Business Wire.

WIRED explains that the Synchron BCI, resembling a mesh stent with electrodes, is inserted into the jugular vein near the motor cortex rather than directly into the brain. Once implanted, it detects and wirelessly transmits neural signals.

In addition to Alexa, WIRED reported that Synchron has connected Mark’s BCI to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the Apple Vision Pro. With this integration, Mark can use his thoughts to control the Vision Pro, navigating menus and playing games like Solitaire.

In a similar BCI project, Elon Musk’s Neuralink showcased a brain-chip user playing chess using only their mind.

Other BCI projects have shown further promises for ALS patients. One recent study enabled a man with advanced ALS to communicate through brain signals that are converted to text with up to 97% accuracy.

Despite advancements, these BCIs remain experimental. Neuralink encountered a mechanical issue with its brain implant, where several threads retracted, reducing the data collected and limiting user control.

Nonetheless, the technology continues to evolve, with new, smaller BCI models offering more efficient solutions.

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