Alterego supposedly capable of reading thoughts and having conversations without implants

Alterego aims to revolutionize communication with a small gadget that is worn in the ear and does not require any invasive procedures such as brain implants. Designed to read the user's thoughts, Alterego does not measure brain waves, but rather interprets movements of the vocal cords and facial muscles in order to interpret silent speech. As the video embedded below demonstrates, it is already possible to interact with an AI assistant, which can answer questions about objects in the real world thanks to an integrated camera.

Alternatively, Alterego also allows users to have private conversations by speaking silently. For example, users can talk to someone in the middle of a quiet office or a noisy subway without disruptive ambient noise interfering with the conversation or people nearby being able to eavesdrop. The manufacturer stresses that Alterego cannot read hidden thoughts and so does not compromise privacy.

Such a device may be of interest to people who, for various reasons, lack a voice. There is currently no timeline for when or if Alterego will actually come to market. The project began in 2018 at the MIT Media Lab, but the recent demonstration has not been independently verified and so should be viewed with caution, as a live demonstration of Alterego is still pending.