A successful clinical trial in California promises useful applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare, although there are concerns.
Surely a screenwriter or science fiction writer would think about this. But technology scientists will make it possible. Artificial intelligence can decipher… thoughts and put into words what a person is thinking about.
The brain has always been a source of inspiration for artificial intelligence scientists: billions of neurons work together to help us think, see, hear and remember. Now they are very close to this, according to Yalta Mohsenzadeh, a professor of computer science at the University of Western Ontario (Canada), in an article published in the prestigious Canadian magazine Maclean’s.
results technological breakthroughs were demonstrated experimentally on Saskatchewan Canadian Ann Johnson, who suffered a stroke at age 30 that left her unable to speak. In 2023, as part of a clinical trial in California, scientists placed more than 200 electrodes inside her head, in the area of the brain responsible for speech. “The port connected to the computer enabled the use of an artificial intelligence algorithm that uses various deep learning techniques to interpret her neural activity.”
According to Mohsenzadeh, “Anne was able to clearly communicate with her husband through an ‘avatar’ that spoke as she thought. We knew the AI was reading her mind correctly because researchers were testing its ability to reproduce controlled information. They had a set of sentences containing a huge range of sounds.”
The experts showed Anne these sentences and had her repeat them in her head over and over again to teach the algorithm to recognize which brain signal corresponds to which sound. After training the algorithm, scientists tested it in real time. The Avatar then said what Anne was thinking.
According to Mohsenzadeh, currently this technology can process about 78 words per minute. She is capable of saying more than a few simple words. It has 39 different sounds that are used to form any words and sentences that Ann wants.
However, according to an information technology professor, she not yet ready for use to patients who cannot speak. “Although all people share some common traits in terms of brain function and information processing, much of the brain’s activity is unique to each individual and changes throughout the day. Another limitation of this work is that it must be performed in a controlled environment since the device is implanted directly into the patient’s head.”
In Mohsenzadeh’s lab, they show people videos or images while recording their brain activity using wearable sensors on their skulls that are sensitive to tiny changes in electrical fields. They then use artificial intelligence to decode the video or image they see.
“We found that we could successfully determine what a person was looking at and thus reveal the complex neural dynamics and brain processes that create our basic perception of the visual world,” explains the experimenter.
For Mohsenzadeh, reaching the point where artificial intelligence can “read our minds” or control our computers with our thoughts is no longer science fiction. “It’s not actually something that will happen in 100 years, but it’s possible that we we’ll see this in the next ten years“, says the scientist from Canada confidently.
Mohsenzadeh believes that the day will come when we will be able to automatically translate and respond to a foreigner speaking his native language. We’ll even get to the point where we can control a vehicle with our thoughts..
“Of course, this is all still theoretical. This will require blending sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms that already perform language translation or drive autonomous cars. But this shows what exciting horizons this technology can open up,” the expert notes.
Of course, the Ontario computer science professor cautions that there are some issues to consider when doing this kind of research. For example, reading brain impulses can also help companies develop targeted advertising. And what will mind reading companies do with this information? We must ensure privacy, data security and consent. This is similar to the ethical issues we face on social media today. It is unlikely that anyone would want someone (the wrong one) to read our thoughts.
More Stories
Where will Greeks go for Easter: the best domestic and foreign destinations
Fine 1200 euros for the bad habit of Greeks at Easter, who is at risk
UK: human trial of melanoma vaccine started