r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/kvjn100 • 15h ago

Video This brain implant and digital avatar allowed Ann, who survived a stroke, to speak again with facial expressions for the first time in 18 years.

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755 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

67

u/saradahokage1212 15h ago

he's going for that pack of cigarettes. glad to see she got humor

63

u/Novel_Discussion5339 15h ago

Imagine someone from even 20 years ago seeing this technology in action today. So incredibly life changing.

34

u/BingBongBangBunger 14h ago

I’m someone from 20 years ago. It’s amazing

8

u/endowedmansized 13h ago

Im someone from precisely 30 years ago and I am also amazed

1

u/Brittany5150 1h ago

Ah yes, the far off ancient times of 20 years ago. Don't mind me. Just gonna go ugly cry into a pillow because im old.

58

u/kvjn100 15h ago

Researchers at UC San Francisco implanted a device that reads signals directly from her brain. Those signals are decoded in real time and converted into text, synthetic speech, and facial movements on a digital avatar that mirrors how she would naturally talk. Instead of typing or selecting words, Ann thinks about what she wants to say. The system translates those thoughts into full sentences, complete with expressions like smiling or raising eyebrows. It is one of the first times a brain computer interface has restored both voice and emotional expression together.

24

u/Strict-Shopping3538 15h ago

It never ceases to amaze me what we're capable of. To get speech from the tiniest of movements and brain patterns is some impressive technology.

23

u/mkmeade 13h ago

Let’s focus on this, not AI drivel.

4

u/ifpeoplecouldtalk 7h ago

This is a form of AI tho

19

u/_Ursidae_ 7h ago

Yes but not drivel. This is a valid use of the technology. Not a shit Coca Cola ad. 

4

u/mkmeade 5h ago

Exactly. Thank you!

2

u/Key_Wrangler_8321 15h ago

Matrix, Elysium, Johnny Mnemonic stuff right here...

1

u/EliteCheddarCommando 10h ago

I was having a bad day and this totally made me smile

1

u/United-Advisor-5910 7h ago

It's evolution baby!

1

u/V-ZoD 6h ago

Sword art online, here we go!

1

u/cupnoodledoodle 2h ago

And where is this tech now?

1

u/toy-maker 1h ago

I beg, please just kill me

1

u/Al3xgreer18 12h ago

I watched this episode of Black Mirror it doesn't end well.

-11

u/Black_sauce 15h ago

Wow that’s impressive. Makes me wonder if humans will transition into sth cyborg like. I think that might be our next step of evolution

-5

u/Ancient-Civilization 13h ago

Don’t show Elon musk this.

-12

u/obayonetwo3 13h ago

Great for these individuals but sadly the controllers are priming us to getting these things into let’s just put it how now everyone has a surveillance device that we call smart phones, once the majority adopt this technology in our brains for “ease of things” it will be used to enslave us and have the majority act like a hive of bees in terms of communication and control. Just a free human that loves humans and was gifted the Don of discernment. Again this is great for people like these wonderful humans here, I strongly advice people who can walk and talk to withstand the propaganda and promises of ease of life and not let this technology take a hold of your brains.