How a Brain Implant and AI Gave a Woman with Paralysis Her Voice Back

Ann is helping researchers develop new brain-computer technology (BCI) that could one day allow stroke survivors like her to communicate more naturally through a digital avatar that resembles a person. The breakthrough technology was developed by researchers from UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley and decodes Ann's brain signals, turning them into text, speech and facial expressions for a digital avatar for the first time. The research is led by UCSF's Edward Chang, MD, chair of neurological surgery.

[professorsprout]

Locked in syndrome is the scariest and cruel ailment. You can see she is bright and totally tuned in. Some people would stop trying. Some families and caregivers would assume the patient has reduced cognitive function but that is clearly not so. She could be a great counselor.

[TheRamoach]

To see these young scientists using their dedication and intellect to change lives like this is really heart warming. You're really making a difference guys.

[Brainhoneywalker]

Her husband stuck with her like a jewel. That couldn’t have been easy. She looks so loved and cared for. This will be wonderful for them. May she continue to get better.

[Rin-jckp]

The “don’t make me laugh” in response to him being at the store for only an hour 😅 bless this woman for not only fighting but keeping her sense of humor intact ❤

[SIRA]

Seeing her smile like that and laugh and enjoying herself is absolutely beautiful

[MrPC]

We're getting closer and closer to cybernetics truly improving the lives of the disabled. Incredible.

[andijonesgrif]

As the parent of a 10 yr old non-verbal child who has never learnt to speak I understand that this technology is not applicable to children like mine. But as someone who has spent countless times seeing the frustration in my son because he can't express himself, this made me cry

I'm so happy for Anne and all others this technology will help to feel like whole people again, and have fulfilling lives, and to be heard and understood.

Thank you so much 😢❤️

[DokterCreeper]

These are things AI voices should really be used for!
We could just gather old clips of people's voices and use this exact tech to give them their actual voice back.

[cryptcrature]

To me, this is the true use for AI that should be focused on. Giving people their freedoms, voices and lives back through medical inventions like these. I'm so glad to see people get some abilities back they'd lost, or maybe even never had before. This is tech that progresses humanity and I think more funding should be put into it.

[behzadmirmozaffari]

As someone intimately familiar with the challenges of a stroke patient, let me just say this: God bless all those people who attempt to lessen the burden of the sick and the disabled. You are the true heroes👏👏👏

[alisonargall]

Well I gotta say… the best part about this story is how genuinely happy this woman looks. Despite her situation, it appears she’s able to make the best of it and that makes me so glad for her.

[late_night_club]

The moment where she jokes with him about taking a while at the store made me smile and tear up. I do worry about advanced ai and what we humans will do with it, but it is heartwarming to see it used in these applications

[Dieclownmusic]

The kind of thing I wish I saw in headlines 3 months ago when this video was published, not something I stumble upon on my own. This deserves much more attention, and much more funding. I’m tired of things in the news making me sad, this really made me smile the whole way through ❤️

[waynetttttt]

This is what humans should be like helping one another and not wars etc..

This is incredible

[Seevawonderloaf]

If I'm not mistaken, I saw Anne in a previous documentary where they showed her using the slower machine which, at that time, was the most recent technology. Absolutely astounding they have created this. JUST WOW. As a fellow scientist who works with cancer cells in a lab, I often forget our work impacts actual people bc i never get to see it

[ellielynn]

As a daughter of someone who had a stroke when I was young this brings tears to my eyes 💜 Thankfully my mom still has her speech but half her body is paralyzed and I know they’re using amazing tech to restore people’s lives. AI is very scary to me in certain aspects but used in this way, it’s truly amazing! I hope one day she’ll be able to walk and move without pain and assistance. Thank you guys for all you do!

[blacktigger]

It’s good to see someone using AI to better someone’s life not destroy the creative thing humans use to express themselves

[hasmiksal]

My father had a stroke 8 months ago. His speech is what got impacted. He still can’t speak but he is cognitively all there, thank god. Seeing engineering like this is truly remarkable. My heart goes out to everyone who is a caregiver and to everyone who has suffered a stroke.

[robertcarlson]

I love to see things like this. My wife had a stroke at 32 (16 years ago). I feel like it stole our life. Seeing solutions like this, makes me happy. People don't realize what the stroke stole from my wife. I want nothing more for her than to have some quality of life back and made easier through these types of tools. Thank you!

[heathenised]

THIS. THIS is what ai, robots and technology should be used for! sending TONS of love to Ann, her family and her loved ones, and all the people involved to make this happen! ❤️
edit: not the people in the replies defending ai stealing art...