For the benefit of people with any form of disabilities as well as motor disorders to get the hang of the evolving technology, USA based Synchron is trying to integrate ChatGPT into its brain computer system. This is something which has not been done historically.
The implant is named “stentrode” which has to be inserted into a blood vessel near the brain the brain’s motor cortex. The price of the implant ranges from around $50,000 and $100,000. This procedure does not require craniotomy which is equivalent to the cost of other implantable devices used in healthcare.
Tom Oxley, the CEO of Synchron stated that the company has tried out an array of diverse AI models over the last few years, but OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o that had its official release in May 23 is the most suitable integrator for the process.
The most integral aspect that caught Oxley’s eye is the demonstration which potrayed a visually impaired person navigating their way through a city, effortlessly asking the AI mod pertinent questions regarding his surroundings. It has also assisted them to book cabs and other relevant resources. The ChatGPT-4o version can basically take in text, audio and visual information at the same time to generate a resourceful output. This makes it both convenient and easily accessible in nature.
An individual named Mark, who is one of the people in the entire world, who has gone through the procedure of implantation of the stentrode, says that his upper limbs are completely unusable. He has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in 2021 and this is an effect of the illness. Even though ordinary BCI devices can help him control for typing and other activities, they are inherently slow. But after the procedure, it has been easy for Mark to use the feature of AI prediction to indulge in a fast conversation.
Sam Oxley has also specifically mentioned that the company will not to be tied to any particular or primary language in its practical aspect. This promise ensures to breakthrough the traditional notions of barriers in communication which is indeed the need of the hour. Nonetheless, this innovation definitely brings hope for a number of individuals and guides them into the process of self-reliance.
