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Bradford G. Smith, a recipient of a Neuralink brain implant and battling ALS, is pioneering a new frontier in communication by integrating generative AI into his daily life. Unable to speak, Smith utilizes the Neuralink implant to control a computer cursor with his thoughts. He’s now augmenting this capability with Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk, to draft responses and engage in conversations more effectively, raising complex questions about the blending of human intention and artificial intelligence.

Neurologist Eran Klein from the University of Washington points to a crucial consideration: the balance between speed and precision when merging brain-computer interfaces and AI. Smith’s progress, transitioning from eye-tracking technology to an AI-assisted brain implant, illustrates the transformative potential of AI for individuals facing communication challenges.

Furthermore, Smith employs a voice clone created with ElevenLabs to convey his thoughts in his own voice. Experimenting with language models like ChatGPT and Grok, he seeks to generate contextually relevant responses and conversational prompts. His vision extends to a customized large language model, trained on his personal writing, to further refine and personalize his communication style. Smith’s shared experiences on X (formerly Twitter) have ignited discussions on the very nature of authenticity in the age of AI-enhanced communication.

This story was originally reported by MIT Technology Review.