Scientists in California have created a new brain-computer interface (BCI) that can turn thoughts into spoken words almost instantly. This new technology was tested on a 47-year-old woman who lost her ability to speak after a stroke 18 years ago. As part of a clinical trial, doctors placed the device in the part of her brain that controls speech. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, showed that the device successfully turned her thoughts into clear, spoken sentences. Unlike older systems that had delays, this BCI works continuously, making communication smoother and more accurate. Researchers called this a major step forward in speech technology.

The system uses tiny electrodes to read brain signals when the person silently imagines talking. Artificial intelligence then decodes these signals and turns them into speech. To make the voice sound more natural, the researchers used a speech synthesizer trained on recordings of the woman’s voice before her stroke. The system processes brain activity in 80-millisecond pieces, turning each one into part of a sentence in real time. Experts believe this real-time method could change how people with speech problems communicate. Though still in the early stages, this technology shows great promise. With more research and support, it could be available in clinics within ten years, bringing new hope to many.