In recent developments, brain-computer interface (BCI) companies Synchron and OpenAI have integrated ChatGPT to enhance communication for people with severe mobility limitations. This integration allows users to navigate and select responses through prompts displayed on an iPad App.
Synchron, a leading-edge BCI company, is focused on restoring autonomy to their users by enabling more natural interactions with digital environments. The ChatGPT integration represents a frontier beyond text as it uses inputs from the environment that behave like an extension of the user's brain.
The possibilities for this technology are vast, ranging from incorporating conversational context from family members and caregivers to powering calendar integrations and other practical applications. Emotional categorization is used to provide users with a context-based array of choices, allowing for different prompts spanning various positive, neutral, or negative responses.
Synchron does not share any brain data with OpenAI and aims to build that knowledge base of the user locally and protect their privacy. The long-term play involves unlocking broader applications across a rapidly evolving consumer technology ecosystem.
Mark, a person living with ALS, has already experienced the benefits of this integration. It has saved him time and energy by reducing pressure in communication through the platform.
The future of BCIs holds great potential as they evolve towards social robotics with semi-autonomous AI agents. Synchron's non-exclusive partnership with OpenAI is a significant step towards realizing this vision.
Despite advancements in technology, it's important to remember that there are privacy challenges associated with user data protection and encryption between device, local network, and cloud. As the BCI market continues to evolve, addressing these concerns will be crucial for widespread adoption.