Earlier this month, Elon Musk revealed the ambitious plan to connect the human brain with a computer using artificial intelligence. His tech startup, Neuralink, plans to implant electrodes into the human brain to enhance its capabilities.
Elon Musk’s Neuralink isn’t the only company working towards merging the human brain with AI. Facebook is also working on a similar project that will allow users to type words on a computer screen using your brain. The difference is that Facebook’s project won’t require any surgery.
Facebook revealed its plans two years ago and is working with several universities to build such tech.
A recent Facebook-funded study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco concluded that it is actually possible.
The study involved three patients suffering from epilepsy who were implanted with a small patch of electrodes on their brains to monitor brain activity. Researchers were able to see the words that the participants were saying by simply monitoring their brain activity.
Facebook wants to use the project to decode the brain activity of people who cannot communicate by speaking.
Speaking to CNN about the project, Facebook Reality Labs’ Mark Chevillet said: “We expect that to take upwards of 10 years. This is a long-term research program.”
The social media giant has not revealed much about the ongoing project but the ongoing study and the company’s involvement in it highlight Facebook’s ambitions.
Developing a technology that translates brain activity into words and phrases without using an invasive device is tricky. However, with the advancements we are witnessing in the field of technology, a real product on similar lines doesn’t seem far fetched.
