Researchers have developed a system that could parse meaning from brain activity and translate it into text. Through a machine-learning algorithm, they have trained an AI by letting it listen to people as they speak. From the data they collected, the AI will be able to predict what the people were actually saying.
It's just a start, but it's pretty exciting: a system that translates brain activity into text. For those unable to physically speak, such as people with locked-in syndrome for example, this would be a life-changer.
To train their AI, Makin and co-author Edward F. Chang "listened in" on the neural activity of four participants. As epileptics, each participant had had brain electrodes implanted for the purpose of seizure monitoring.
The participants were supplied 50 sentences they were to read aloud at least three times. As they did, neural data was collected by the researchers. (Audio recordings were also made.)
Though the algorithm isn't able to translate with 100% accuracy yet, the researchers believe that this could form the basis for speech prosthesis in the future.
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay