Elon Musk's Neuralink plans a brain speech trial in October

Neuralink plans to begin another US clinical trial in October, using the implant to translate thoughts into text. The study will be held through an FDA investigational device exemption. "If you're imagining saying something, we would be able to pick that up," Neuralink president DJ Seo said this week.

The idea is to help people with speech impairments communicate through thought. Neuralink is among the companies testing implants that help patients control a computer with their minds. That can include using virtual keyboards. Translating thought directly from the patient's speech cortex could speed things up by cutting the middleman.

The company already has five other clinical trials underway. The first was in the US. It has since added studies in Canada, the UK and the United Arab Emirates.

Neuralink's plans for people with severe impairments sound like utopian sci-fi ...