World first: brain implant lets man speak with expression — and sing

A brain-computer interface (BCI) has allowed a man with a severe speech disability to speak expressively — and even sing. The device uses artificial intelligence to decode the man’s electrical brain activity as he attempts to talk, and speaks his words aloud in a synthetic voice within 10 milliseconds of such activity. The voice, designed to mimic the man’s own, conveys changes of tone when he asks questions, emphasizes the words of his choice and allows him to hum a string of notes in three pitches.