Well, not your thoughts, probably, but Meta has unveiled a new AI-powered brain scanner that can apparently translate thoughts into text. That’s according to the company itself, which posted two research papers and a blog about it. The system, which relies on non-invasive brain recordings, represents a major milestone in Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology. However, it’s not something you’ll be wearing as a headset anytime soon.
Despite the advancement, the system isn’t practical outside of a lab, as it requires a room-sized MEG scanner in a shielded environment to avoid interference from Earth’s magnetic field. Still, unlike invasive BCI solutions that require electrodes implanted into the brain such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink, Meta’s approach remains completely external.
While the company insists this research won’t lead to commercial products, we hope that it serves as a foundation for future non-invasive BCI development. Even as AI takes over more and more computer jobs, softening our brains, a readily-available BCI could drastically multiply the productivity of human workers.
If you’re interested in the fine details of Meta’s announcements, you can check the company’s blog post, or click here and here for the two research papers.