Unlocking Telepathic Communication: Will Wearable AI be a Reality?

As the horizon of innovation stretches before us, generative artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a catalyst poised to reshape diverse industries and technologies in the coming years. Within this landscape, a singular conviction takes root — a conviction that humans could communicate solely through the realms of thought.

One company, Unbabel, stands at the forefront of this transformative narrative. Renowned as a digital translation powerhouse, it has harnessed its prowess to foster crystal-clear communication between parties conversing in disparate languages. However, the undercurrent of innovation runs even deeper.

Over the span of four years, Unbabel has diligently channelled its efforts into crafting a "brain-to-communications interface." This vision converges upon a dynamic landscape where businesses, regardless of linguistic diversity, can forge profound connections with their customers and clients. The very heart of this endeavour beats within the Language Operations platform — a seamless amalgamation of AI and the finesse of human touch. This fusion thrives through an evolution nurtured by high-quality interactions, shaping a realm where AI interfaces meld seamlessly with human transactions, maturing over time.

Intriguingly, the narrative journeys into the realm of wearables, culminating in the creation of a non-intrusive marvel: Halo (“named after Halogram”). This wearable boasts a remarkable ability — it transmits text messages not through a device, but through the uncharted terrain of thoughts.

Yet, a pivotal marriage amplifies Halo's potential. It entwines with OpenAI's advanced generative AI, a milestone that has cast its shadows earlier this year.

Its Mechanism

Unbabel takes a distinctive route, diverging from the path of more intrusive methods adopted by entities like Neuralink. Rather than delving into intricate brain signal translation, it harnesses the power of electromyography (EMG) — a cost-effective avenue for gauging muscle response and electrical activity. At the heart of this innovation lies the Halo prototype, a product of EMG sensors ingeniously embedded within a sleek armband. This unassuming band delves into the realm of mind-picturing, capturing the nuanced muscle movements as users envision specific words.

While the principle underlying Halo's design has been harnessed before, including by entities under the Meta umbrella, Unbabel's creation is propelled by a potent companion: the latest advancements in generative AI. Vasco Pedro, the founder and CEO of Unbabel, confidently echoes a sentiment of acceleration, asserting, "This is the moment when this is going to accelerate.”

Presently, devices employing analogous principles can merely grasp rudimentary concepts and words through muscle twitches and allied data. Yet, the realm shifts with the advent of generative AI. This technological marvel possesses the capacity to decipher the same signals and swiftly approximate more intricate words — especially as it imbibes the unique patterns of individual users. This metamorphosis translates into a dynamic where users can validate the AI's comprehension of their intended communication before unleashing the text upon the world.

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A symbiotic connection between the Halo wearable, a companion app nestled within the user's phone, and wireless headphones forms the nucleus of this innovation. Within this orchestration, a dynamic unfolds — a journey marked by the seamless reception of messages, akin to the ubiquitous manner in which individuals are notified of their textual communications.

At the crux of this endeavour is the "personalised Language Model (LLM)". Anchored by ChatGPT 3.5, this augmentation transcends conventional realms, weaving an intricate tapestry between the user's inner thoughts, their intended message, and the recipient on the other end. This synthesis ushers in a realm where thought and text converge — a fusion that paves the path toward what could be dubbed as "telepathic" communication.

On the Mission to Create a “Christmas Miracle”

At the intersection of innovation and collaboration, Unbabel is shaping a transformative future with its pioneering creation—the E-skin sleeve. Crafted in partnership with the Printed Microelectronics Laboratory at the University of Coimbra, this wearable emerges as an embodiment of technological finesse and flexibility. Comprising a malleable "E-skin" infused with EMG sensors, this creation navigates the realm where neural communication and technology intersect.

Although the current iteration of the device stands as a prototype in its raw form, Unbabel's vision extends beyond the present. The company exudes confidence in its ability to distill the essence of this innovation into a form factor that is both miniature and ready for large-scale production with Vasco affirming this trajectory. The Halo prototype has already garnered the endorsement of Portugal's foremost amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) association — a testament to its potential impact. In a heartening trajectory, the prototype is poised to reach its first users grappling with ALS by the onset of Christmas.

This stride is a testament to the innovation's alignment with real-world needs. Current technological solutions for individuals afflicted by ALS are often intertwined with frustrating calibration processes — eye tracking being a prominent example.

If it is ready by Christmas, it will be truly a heart-warming Christmas miracle!