A 64-year-old man living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has successfully controlled Amazon’s Alexa using only his thoughts, thanks to a brain implant, according to Synchron, the company behind the innovation. The patient, identified only as Mark, used the implant placed in a blood vessel on the surface of his brain to navigate icons on an Amazon Fire tablet and control various devices.
This breakthrough allows him to perform tasks like streaming shows, playing music, making video calls, controlling smart home devices, and shopping online—using only his mind. Synchron explained that this technology sends signals directly from the brain, bypassing the need for voice or touch commands.
Mark expressed how this innovation has restored some independence, saying, “Being able to manage important aspects of my environment gives me back the independence that I’m losing.”
The test is part of ongoing efforts to demonstrate how brain-computer interfaces could enable customers to control Alexa-compatible smart home devices without needing physical interaction.
Several companies, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink, are exploring similar brain-computer interfaces. Neuralink recently installed a brain implant in a man paralyzed from a diving accident and is continuing tests as the technology progresses.