A paralyzed woman couldn't speak for more than 20 years. With AI, now she can — just by thinking.

Sun, 09/10/2023 - 20:26

MRI of a 30-year-old patient suffering from dystonia. — The MRI of a 30-year-old patient with Dystonia, treated by a high frequency deep brain stimulation by implantation of electrodes at the level of the internal palladium. The MRI scan does not belong to Johnson.
BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images

A development in neurotechnology has given a stroke survivor her voice back after nearly 20 years.
The woman had a brain stem stroke that left her paralyzed and unable to speak at age 30.
Her new implant uses AI to decode brain signals and convert them to computerized speech.

Nearly two decades ago, then-30-year-old Ann Johnson had a brain stem stroke, and though she survived, she was left paralyzed and unable to speak with a condition known as locked-in syndrome.