New brain implants can decode unspoken thought
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In a recent study published in Cell, scientists reported a groundbreaking brain–computer interface technology is enabling implants to translate neural activity into speech or text, offering new hope for people with paralysis or speech loss. However, researchers warn that these devices could also capture and interpret thoughts the user did not intend to share, raising ethical and privacy concerns. As decoding accuracy improves, experts stress the need for strict safeguards to ensure that such technology respects consent and protects mental privacy.
Source
Kunz EM, Abramovich Krasa B, Kamdar F, Avansino DT, Hahn N, Yoon S, Singh A, Nason-Tomaszewski SR, Card NS, Jude JJ, Jacques BG, Bechefsky PH, Iacobacci C, Hochberg LR, Rubin DB, Williams ZM, Brandman DM, Stavisky SD, AuYong N, Pandarinath C, Druckmann S, Henderson JM, Willett FR. Inner speech in motor cortex and implications for speech neuroprostheses. Cell. 2025 Aug 21;188(17):4658-4673.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.06.015. Epub 2025 Aug 14. PMID: 40816265; PMCID: PMC12360486.
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