News Summary

Startup Cognixion has announced the launch of a clinical trial for its noninvasive wearable brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, which is integrated with the Apple Vision Pro. This initiative aims to assist paralyzed individuals with speech disorders in communicating through thought. Unlike competitors such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink, Cognixion’s approach does not require surgical implants. The trial will involve up to 10 participants in the US who suffer from speech impairments due to conditions like spinal cord injury, stroke, or ALS. Cognixion, based in Santa Barbara, California, has developed both a software component and a hardware add-on that connects with the Vision Pro. The company’s CEO, Andreas Forsland, was motivated to start Cognixion after experiencing communication challenges while his mother was intubated in the ICU. The technology leverages generative AI models to adapt to users’ speech patterns, enabling communication at near-normal conversation speed.