MIT researchers have developed AlterEgo, a wearable headset that interprets “silent speech” into words, enabling near-telepathic communication without brain implants.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled a device that enables users to communicate without speaking, offering what they call the “power of telepathy.”
The gadget, named AlterEgo, is worn around the ears like a hearing aid and detects tiny facial, mouth, and vocal cord movements. These signals, known as “silent speech,” are then converted into words by software. The system uses bone conduction to transmit responses to the user without disrupting normal hearing.
Arnav Kapur, the MIT scientist leading the project, described AlterEgo as a “revolutionary breakthrough” and “a natural extension of the human mind.” He added that the device provides “the power of telepathy, but only for the thoughts you want to share.”
Researchers say the technology could help people with speech disorders such as multiple sclerosis, while also allowing hands-free access to AI or Google searches. Unlike Elon Musk’s Neuralink, AlterEgo stresses it does not “mind-read,” but instead interprets only deliberate silent articulation.