Alexa, Read My Mind: New Tech Allows Mental Commands

Mark, a 64-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), now controls Amazon Alexa using his mind, thanks to a brain implant. ALS is a disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing people to lose muscle control over time. While Mark can still walk and talk, he has no use of his arms and hands. In August 2023, he became part of a clinical trial and received a brain-computer interface (BCI) implant made by a company called Synchron.

The implant allows Mark to control digital devices like phones, tablets, and now even Alexa without needing to use his hands or voice. He is the first person to use Alexa with the help of an implanted BCI. This means he can now perform tasks like turning the lights on and off, making video calls, and even shopping on Amazon, all with just his thoughts.

For Mark, this technology is life-changing. “It’s exciting and freeing,” he says. Though using the system can be challenging at times, it gives him a new way to stay independent. He can now control many things in his home without needing help from others. Synchron’s BCI, and its connection to Alexa, gives him back a level of freedom that was once lost due to his condition.

How the BCI Works

Synchron’s BCI is a small, flexible mesh-like device that doctors place near the brain’s motor cortex. The motor cortex is the part of the brain that controls voluntary movement, like walking or picking something up. However, instead of directly implanting the BCI into the brain, doctors place it through a small procedure. They insert it through a large vein in the neck (the jugular vein) and guide it until it reaches the motor cortex.

Once in place, the BCI can pick up signals from the brain that would normally tell the muscles to move. For people like Mark, whose muscles no longer work due to ALS, the BCI sends those brain signals to devices like computers and tablets, allowing him to control them with his thoughts. This makes it possible for him to perform tasks such as using apps, surfing the internet, or sending emails, all without needing to move his arms or hands.

The system connects to digital devices via Bluetooth, just like how wireless headphones pair with a phone. Mark practices using his BCI with the help of a Synchron engineer who visits him at his home twice a week. Each session helps Mark get more comfortable with controlling the devices through his thoughts.

Using Alexa Commands, Vision Pro, and More

Mark’s new BCI lets him control Amazon Alexa through a Fire tablet. With this setup, Mark can turn the lights on and off, watch TV, control his Ring security camera, and even read books on Kindle—all using just his mind. He no longer needs to rely on his voice or touchscreens, which is a huge benefit for someone with limited mobility. He can also use Alexa to play music, make video calls, and shop on Amazon.

In addition to Alexa, Synchron has also connected Mark’s BCI to Apple’s Vision Pro. This is a mixed-reality headset that usually requires hand gestures to operate. With the BCI, Mark can control the cursor in the Vision Pro system with his thoughts. He can watch movies, play games like Solitaire, and even send text messages, all using the Vision Pro headset.

Synchron’s BCI has also been connected to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This gives Mark another way to interact with technology. For example, he can ask ChatGPT questions or get information without needing to type or speak.

While the technology is impressive, Mark admits that there are still some challenges. “We’ve been working through accessibility challenges on all platforms to make it better for the next generation of users,” he says. However, he is hopeful that future updates will make the system even easier to use.

A Look at the Future of BCI Technology

Synchron’s BCI technology is just one of many new advancements in the field of brain-computer interfaces. Several companies, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink, are also working on creating BCIs that allow people to control devices with their minds. The goal is to eventually make this technology available to the public so that people with paralysis or other disabilities can regain independence.

Currently, Synchron has implanted its BCI in six people in the U.S. and four in Australia. These implants are part of early studies that are helping researchers learn more about how the brain communicates with technology. So far, the results are promising, and Synchron plans to start a larger trial with more participants soon.

What More can BCI Technology Do Apart from Alexa Commands?

The BCI technology could do more than just help people with disabilities use digital devices. Experts believe that it could also help people regain a sense of normalcy by allowing them to use the same devices as their family and friends. This is important because many assistive devices can feel different or isolating, but BCIs allow people to interact with everyday technology in a more natural way.

Mark is hopeful that the BCI will allow him to do more complex tasks in the future. For example, he wants to get back to painting, which was once a passion of his. Synchron’s CEO, Thomas Oxley, says the company is working on developing new features that will allow people to perform even more actions with their thoughts. “Things like scrolling, clicking, dragging, and dropping—all the things we use our fingers for—we’re figuring out ways to let the brain do it instead,” says Oxley.

This would mean that people with paralysis could control their devices as easily as those who have full mobility. Oxley also mentioned that Synchron is talking with other tech companies to add more integrations in the future. The goal is to create a system that allows users to multitask just like anyone else. This could include using multiple devices at once or controlling complex tasks like managing a smart home system.

Conclusion

Synchron’s BCI technology is opening up a new world of possibilities for people with paralysis. For Mark, the ability to control digital devices with his thoughts has given him back a level of independence he thought was lost. From turning lights on to watching TV and even sending messages, the BCI is allowing Mark to regain control over his environment.

As Synchron continues to develop and improve this technology, the future looks bright for brain-computer interfaces. With more features and integrations on the horizon, people like Mark may soon be able to do even more with just their thoughts. For now, though, Mark is excited about what he can already do, and he hopes that one day he’ll be able to return to his passion for painting, thanks to this cutting-edge technology.