United States: Scientists have developed a groundbreaking brain-computer interface (BCI) that translates neural signals into spoken words in real time. This revolutionary device is being tested as a potential solution for individuals with severe communication disabilities, offering them the ability to produce natural speech once again, as reported by NBC News.
Restoring Speech in a Stroke Patient
Researchers recently tested this innovative device on a 47-year-old woman who lost her ability to speak after a stroke 18 years ago. Surgeons implanted the device in her brain, allowing her to participate in a clinical trial. The results, published in Nature Neuroscience, showed that the system successfully “converts her intent to speak into fluent sentences,” according to study co-author Gopala Anumanchipalli.
Unlike previous BCIs, which often introduce delays between thought and speech, this device operates with minimal lag, reducing communication errors and improving real-time interaction.
A Major Leap in Assistive Technology
Jonathan Brumberg, a researcher at the University of Kansas’ Speech and Applied Neuroscience Lab, called this a significant advancement in speech restoration technology. Using electrode recordings, scientists captured brain signals as the woman mentally formed sentences. They then reconstructed speech sounds using an AI-driven voice synthesizer, which was trained on recordings of her voice from before her injury.
AI and Brain Signals Power Speech Restoration
The technology behind this system is similar to real-time transcription tools used in meetings and phone calls. According to Anumanchipalli of the University of California, Berkeley, the implant is positioned on areas of the brain responsible for speech, allowing it to decode neural signals and convert them into spoken language. The system streams speech with just an 80-millisecond delay—about half a syllable—making real-time conversation possible, as reported by NBC News.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Speech Restoration
The experimental brain-computer interface system continues to develop toward becoming a major solution for neurological patients who lost their ability to speak. The research community continues to develop this technology to improve its performance levels while making it widely available for users who require it.