Elon Musk, head of Neuralink, announced that the company’s BCI device can restore speech to those who have lost it. The device translates brain activity into words.
Neuralink is restoring speech to those who have lost the ability to speak https://t.co/DySKSyV6yw
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 24, 2026
The entrepreneur commented on a post by the company itself, which shared a video demonstrating the update. In it, ALS patient Kenneth Shock was able to communicate again using the implant.
Neuralink’s software decodes phonemes (the smallest distinctive units of language), combines them into words, and reproduces them with the patient’s original voice.
“The disease gradually deprived Kenneth of the ability to speak. As part of Neuralink’s VOICE clinical trial, we are exploring how a brain-computer interface designed to convert thoughts into speech can help him regain independence in daily life,” the Neuralink statement reads.
The system reads neural activity related to speech, converts it into text, and then vocalizes it through a computer. The process takes some time, but the firm aims for real-time translation to make communication more natural.
Musk emphasized that the technology is already operational in real-world conditions and is a step towards enabling people to speak literally through thought.
Neuralink’s technology is gradually advancing, but the company faces challenges, including regulatory approval, long-term safety, and neurodata privacy. Mass adoption of BCI solutions is still a long way off.
Neuralink Patient Plays Warcraft
Another Neuralink patient, British veteran paratrooper John L. Noble, shared his achievements since receiving the N1 chip implant 100 days ago.
It’s hard to believe it’s already been 100 days since I received my Neuralink N1 implant. Looking back, the whole journey feels like science fiction that somehow became my everyday reality.
The surgery on Day 0 was surprisingly easy. A quick general anaesthetic, a small… pic.twitter.com/jmqA428RuV
— Jon L. Noble🇬🇧 (@CheckCanopy) March 22, 2026
The surgery was straightforward. A brief general anaesthetic, a small incision, and then a robotic system precisely placed 1024 ultra-thin threads in the motor cortex. Noble awoke feeling refreshed and in good spirits.
In the second week, the implant was connected to a new MacBook. Neuralink engineers conducted calibration, and within minutes, the patient was moving the cursor with his mind.
“At first, it felt like trying to recall a dream, but by the third week, it became natural. Scrolling, clicking, typing—all controlled by thought,” Noble noted.
By day 80, he launched World of Warcraft and was able to play using mind control.
“The first raid was a bit clumsy, but once the brain and BCI synchronized, it was pure magic. Now I raid and explore ‘Azeroth’ hands-free, at full speed, without a mouse and keyboard, just with intentions. It’s truly impressive. The sense of freedom is captivating,” the patient reported.
Noble received thousands of messages of support and inquiries about the technology and its future.
Back in April 2025, a woman paralyzed after a stroke regained her speech after 18 years of silence thanks to an experimental BCI and artificial intelligence.