Synchron, a brain-computer interface company, announced a breakthrough where a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) successfully controlled Amazon’s Alexa using only his mind. This innovation allowed the 64-year-old to operate devices and access entertainment by mentally interacting with an Amazon Fire tablet.
Implanted in a blood vessel on the brain’s surface, the device enabled the patient, known as Mark, to manage video calls, play music, control smart home devices, shop online, and read books. Mark expressed that this technological advance restored a significant degree of independence lost to ALS—a degenerative nerve condition causing muscle weakness and paralysis.
The demonstration aimed to illustrate the potential for customers to manage smart homes through thought alone, bypassing traditional voice or touch commands.
This development is part of a broader movement toward integrating brain technology with computing, a field in which companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink are also active. Musk reported success with a similar brain implant in a paralyzed patient and plans to continue advancing this technology with more test subjects.
Read: Neuralink Successfully Implements Second Brain Implant
