Neuralink’s Brain Implant Turned Imagined Speech Into Audible Words

ALS patient Kenneth Shock in the VOICE trial demonstrated output of imagined speech via the N1 implant: a wireless device reads cortical signals and synthesizes words in his pre-illness voice. Independent data on accuracy and the several-second delay have not yet been published.

• N1 implant transmits signals wirelessly and synthesizes speech in patient's voice
• Training is staged: aloud, silently, then fully mentally
• Delay between intention and sound is several seconds
• FDA granted Breakthrough Device status, but no approval yet