Boston startup AlterEgo has introduced a new wearable device on the market that allows users to control AI and a computer without words, screens or gestures.
The headset captures “inner speech” — the muscle signals of the face and throat that arise when a person silently says words to themselves. These signals are processed by algorithms and translated into commands, while responses are delivered through bone conduction vibrations. This is a technology in which sound is transmitted directly through the bones of the skull to the inner ear, so only the user can hear it.
The development is based on a 2018 MIT Media Lab technology. Unlike neural interfaces such as Neuralink, AlterEgo does not interfere with brain function and does not require surgery. The headset is safe, comfortable and provides a high level of privacy.
The approach is especially promising for people with speech impairments and for situations where voice commands are impossible. It could open new horizons of communication — including in everyday settings. And schools and universities may have to reconsider how they assess knowledge!
