A man with ALS used a brain implant to talk and work from home for nearly two years

A 45-year-old man who'd lost clear speech to ALS used a brain implant at home for over 3,800 hours. It turned his attempted speech into text at about 56 words a minute, and let him keep working full time. Rating: In clinical trials.

What is it?

Four tiny electrode grids were placed on the part of his brain that controls speech, as part of the BrainGate2 trial. When he tries to speak, an AI turns the signals into words on a screen, and can read them out in a voice made to sound like his old one. He can also move a computer mouse by imagining moving his hand. The University of California, Davis team reported it in Nature Medicine.

What's the evidence?

1. Over nearly 2 years he used the system for more than 3,800 hours at home, with no researchers there. He said 183,060 sentences (1,960,163 words) at an average of 56 words a minute. Before, he managed about 6 to 7 words a minute through an interpreter or a head mouse.^[1]

   Evidence stage: In clinical trials · #c1

2. He rated 92% of sentences as at least mostly right: 53.3% fully correct, 12.9% fixed by him, and 26.1% mostly correct. When reading set sentences aloud, word accuracy was over 99% from a 125,000-word vocabulary.^[1]

   Evidence stage: In clinical trials · #c2

3. It's one person. The kit is wired through the skull, needs about 20 minutes' set-up each day by trained carers, and runs on a cart of computers that can't leave the house. Accuracy in everyday chat wasn't as high as in the set tests.^[1]

   Evidence stage: In clinical trials · #c3

4. Several authors hold patents or advise brain-implant companies, as listed in the paper.^[1]

   Evidence stage: In clinical trials · #c4

What does it mean for me?

If someone you love has lost their speech to ALS or a stroke, this shows a brain implant gave one man everyday conversation back for nearly two years. It's a research trial with one user, brain surgery and a lot of equipment, and it isn't available outside trials. For now, ask about speech and communication aids that exist today.

What could I ask my doctor?

• What communication aids could help right now?
• Are there brain-computer interface trials running near us?

These are general starting points, not a recommendation to choose any particular test or treatment.

If you're worried about your health right now, contact your doctor or local health advice line. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number.

Change history

• 24 October 2026: First published.

General information only, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your situation. AI-assisted source check. Not clinically reviewed.