Synchron is a brain computer interface (BCI) company that rivals Elon Musk’s Neuralink. The company recently announced that the first patient with a Synchron implant used Amazon’s Alexa with the brain computer interface.

Brain Chip Control

Mark lives with ALS and uses Synchron’s BCI to control Amazon’s Alexa; Photo: Synchron.

Mark is a 64-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who uses his thoughts to control his smart home via the Tap to Alexa feature on his Amazon Fire tablet. This feature allows Mark to select customized tiles that perform pre-set Alexa actions, such as controlling the lights, making video calls, listening to music, or online shopping on Amazon—completely hands-free.

“The integration with smart technology and my BCI is something I’m really excited about,” said Mark, a trial participant living with ALS using Synchron’s BCI platform. “It’s hard to imagine living in our modern world without the ability to access or control connected devices like Amazon’s Alexa and Echo products that are so prevalent in my daily life.”

With Synchron’s BCI, Mark can restore previous aspects of his life that he lost. He said, “To be able to manage important aspects of my environment and control access to entertainment gives me back the independence that I’m losing.”

Integrating Synchron’s BCI technology with Amazon Alexa’s capabilities opens up a new world of possibilities. For example, the integration could allow users to control their homes, making everyday routines more accessible for people with severe paralysis. In a press release, Synchron said that the BCI system is designed to be simple to use and learn.

“Synchron’s BCI is bridging the gap between neurotechnology and consumer tech, making it possible for people with paralysis to regain control of their environment,” said Tom Oxley, CEO & Founder of Synchron. “While many smart home systems rely on voice or touch, we are sending control signals directly from the brain, bypassing the need for these inputs”

Implant Process

An overview of the BCI system and how it works; Photo: Synchron

According to the company, the Synchron BCI is implanted in the blood vessel on the surface of the brain’s motor cortex via the jugular vein, as shown in the image above. Synchron says that the procedure is “minimally invasive.” Once the chip is implanted, it detects and wirelessly transmits motor intent out of the brain. For example, a user’s thoughts are transformed into action through the BCI’s technology.

Oxley said, “We’re thrilled to utilize our BCI to access Alexa capabilities, so patients can interact with devices in their home hands and voice-free, using only their thoughts, to address a critical unmet need for millions of people with mobility and voice impairment.”