How AI Gave a Paralyzed Woman Her Voice Back
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This is me exploring, learning, and sharing various aspects of Artificial Intelligence along the way, hoping it might also be useful to you.
Recently, I came across this article that piqued my interest, prompting me to experiment with Perplexity Copilot again. I requested a summary of the article in the form of a blog post, tailored to how I wanted to read the article and gain additional insights from other sources as well.
What I find very fascinating is the efficiency of this process. It took less than five minutes to write the prompt (instruction or message). Perplexity did all the research based on my prompt and completed the entire blog post, which can be read below.
This underscores the remarkable utility of such tools; they enhance productivity significantly, allowing you to save precious time that can be better spent on other tasks at work or home if used correctly.
Introduction
Imagine losing your ability to speak, to express your thoughts, feelings, and desires. Now, imagine regaining that ability, not through a miraculous recovery, but through the power of artificial intelligence (AI). This is not a science fiction tale, but the real-life story of a woman named Ann, who, after suffering a severe stroke, regained her ability to communicate through a groundbreaking AI technology. This blog post goes into the details of this breakthrough, its implications, and the potential it holds for the future.
A Life-Changing Breakthrough
At the age of 30, Ann suffered a brainstem stroke that left her severely paralyzed. She lost control of all the muscles in her body, including those that would have allowed her to speak. However, researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley developed a new brain-computer technology that allowed Ann to communicate more naturally through a digital avatar.
The technology involved a brain implant and AI. A Stanford Medicine neurosurgeon placed two tiny sensors in two separate regions of Ann's brain. These sensors, components of an intracortical brain-computer interface (iBCI), were designed to translate the brain activity accompanying attempts at speech into words on a computer screen.
The AI algorithms then translated the signals from the brain into words, allowing Ann to communicate verbally again through a digital avatar. This experimental interface was faster than her previous system, which only produced 14 words per minute. With the new interface, Ann could produce 78 words per minute, bringing her closer to a natural speaking cadence.
The Journey to Success
The journey to this breakthrough was not easy. It involved training the AI system to recognize phonemes, the units of speech that form spoken words. The AI program was taught to decode Ann's brain signals into complete words at a rate of about 80 words a minute.
The team also devised an algorithm for synthesizing speech, which they personalized to sound like Ann's voice before the injury, using a recording of her speaking at her wedding. The avatar was animated with the help of software that simulates and animates muscle movements.
The Future of AI in Communication
This breakthrough is a significant step forward in the field of Brain-Computer Interfaces. It demonstrates the potential of AI in restoring communication for individuals who have lost their ability to speak due to paralysis or other conditions. The researchers hope that this technology will inspire an FDA-approved communication system in the near future.
The video below provides a more detailed look at this groundbreaking technology and its implications.
Conclusion
The story of Ann is a testament to the transformative power of AI. It is a beacon of hope for those who have lost their ability to communicate, showing that with the right technology, they can regain their voice. As we continue to explore the potential of AI, we can look forward to more breakthroughs that will change lives and redefine what is possible.