Musk's Neuralink to test implant that turns thoughts to text

Elon Musk's neurotechnology company, Neuralink, is preparing to launch a new trial in October aimed at helping people with speech impairments translate their thoughts directly into text using a brain implant. The company's president, Dongjin Seo, announced the initiative during a recent talk in Seoul, according to a report by Reuters.

The study will focus on individuals who have lost the ability to speak, with the goal of allowing communication without the use of keyboards or other traditional aids. The implant is designed to detect neural signals associated with imagined speech.

According to the Reuters report, Neuralink has received Breakthrough Device designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for its speech application, a status that can streamline regulatory review. The company began human trials earlier this year after addressing prior FDA safety concerns. To date, 12 people have received the implant, accumulating more than 15,000 hours of use in total.

The device is intended to assist people with conditions such as spinal cord injuries. Previous demonstrations have shown patients using the implant to control digital interfaces, adds the report.