Australian Researchers Develop AI Model That Turns Brainwaves Into Words
Australian scientists are developing an artificial intelligence (AI) system that decodes brainwaves into text, or simply put, thoughts from brainwaves. While doctors use electroencephalogram (EEG) to diagnose brain conditions, researchers at Sydney's University of Technology (UTS) are using it to read thoughts.
An AI Model, developed by PhD students Charles (Jinzhao) Zhou and his supervisors Chin-Teng Lin and Dr Leong, uses deep learning to translate the brain signals from EEG into specific words.
"I am jumping happily, it's just me," the AI model produced the result when Dr Leong wore the 128-electrode EEG cap and did not utter a single word.
Currently, the AI model has been trained on a small set of words and sentences to simplify the process of recognising each word, according to a report in ABC News.
The AI is used to filter out noise and clarify the brain signals because signals from different brain sources overlap on the skull's surface, he added.
While Elon Musk's Neuralink is known for producing something similar, the research by the Sydney scientists is non-invasive in nature.
"We can't get very precise because with non-invasive, you can't actually put it into that part of the brain that decodes words," said Mr Lin.
The technology has immense implications for stroke rehabilitation, speech therapy in autism, and restoring communication for paralysis patients.
AI and human brain
Across the globe, scientists have been combining EEG and AI to produce impressive results. In April, researchers at Mass General Brigham came up with an AI tool capable of predicting brain decline in patients, years in advance.
The AI tool analyses subtle changes in brain activity during sleep using EEG to make the prediction. During one of the studies, it correctly flagged 85 per cent of individuals who eventually experienced cognitive decline, with an overall accuracy of 77 per cent.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
5 hours ago
- Hans India
MIT study warns how ChatGPT weakens critical thinking
A new study from MIT's Media Lab is raising red flags about the impact of generative AI tools like ChatGPT on human cognition—particularly among students. The study suggests that using ChatGPT for academic work may reduce brain activity, diminish creativity, and impair memory formation. The experiment involved 54 participants aged 18 to 39, who were divided into three groups: one using ChatGPT, another using Google Search, and a control group using neither. Each group was asked to write multiple SAT-style essays while wearing EEG devices to measure brain activity across 32 regions. Results showed ChatGPT users exhibited the lowest neural engagement, underperforming across behavioral, linguistic, and cognitive measures. Their essays were also deemed formulaic and lacking originality by English teachers. Alarmingly, as the study progressed over several months, many in the ChatGPT group abandoned active writing altogether, opting instead to copy-paste AI-generated responses with minimal editing. Lead author Nataliya Kosmyna explained her urgency to publish the findings ahead of peer review, saying, 'I'm afraid in 6-8 months some policymaker will propose 'GPT for kindergarten.' That would be absolutely detrimental to developing brains.' In contrast, the group that relied solely on their own brainpower showed stronger neural connectivity in alpha, theta, and delta bands—regions linked with creativity, memory, and semantic processing. These participants felt more ownership over their work and reported higher satisfaction. The Google Search group also demonstrated high engagement and satisfaction, suggesting traditional web research supports more active learning than LLM use. In a follow-up test, participants had to rewrite a previous essay—this time without their original tool. ChatGPT users struggled, barely recalling their previous responses, and showed weaker brain wave activity. In contrast, the brain-only group, now using ChatGPT for the first time, exhibited increased cognitive activity, suggesting that AI can support learning—but only when foundational thinking is already in place. Kosmyna warns that heavy AI use during critical learning phases could impair long-term brain development, particularly in children. Psychiatrist Dr. Zishan Khan echoed this concern: 'Overreliance on LLMs may erode essential neural pathways related to memory, resilience, and deep thinking.' Ironically, the paper itself became a case study in AI misuse. Some users summarized it using ChatGPT, prompting hallucinated facts—like falsely stating the version of ChatGPT used was GPT-4o. Kosmyna had anticipated this and included 'AI traps' in the document to test such behavior. MIT researchers are now expanding their work into programming and software engineering, and early results are even more troubling—suggesting broader implications for industries seeking to automate entry-level tasks. While previous studies have highlighted AI's potential to boost productivity, this research underscores the urgent need for responsible AI use in education, backed by policies that balance efficiency with brain development. OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, the debate on the role of AI in learning continues—with growing calls for regulation, transparency, and digital literacy.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Technology to enforce teen social media ban 'effective', trial says, but this is at odds with other evidence
Technologies to enforce the Australian government's social media ban for under 16s are "private, robust and effective". That's according to the preliminary findings of a federal government-commissioned trial that has nearly finished testing them. The findings, released today, may give the government greater confidence to forge ahead with the ban, despite a suite of expert criticism. They might also alleviate some of the concerns of the Australian population about privacy and security implications of the ban, which is due to begin in December. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologist Reveals: The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo For example, a report based on a survey of nearly 4,000 people and released by the government earlier this week found nine out of ten people support the idea of a ban. But it also found a large number of people were "very concerned" about how the ban would be implemented. Nearly 80 per cent of respondents had privacy and security concerns, while roughly half had concerns about age assurance accuracy and government oversight. Live Events The trial's preliminary findings paint a rosy picture of the potential for available technologies to check people's ages. However, they contain very little detail about specific technologies, and appear to be at odds with what we know about age-assurance technology from other sources. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories From facial recognition to hand movement recognition The social media ban for under 16s was legislated in December 2024. A last-minute amendment to the law requires technology companies to provide "alternative age assurance methods" for account holders to confirm their age, rather than relying only on government-issued ID. The Australian government commissioned an independent trial to evaluate the "effectiveness, maturity, and readiness for use" of these alternative methods. The trial is being led by the Age Check Certification Scheme - a company based in the United Kingdom that specialises in testing and certifying identity verification systems. It includes 53 vendors that offer a range of age assurance technologies to guess people's ages, using techniques such as facial recognition and hand-movement recognition. According to the preliminary findings of the trial, "age assurance can be done in Australia ". The trial's project director, Tony Allen, said "there are no significant technological barriers" to assuring people's ages online. He added the solutions are "technically feasible, can be integrated flexibly into existing services and can support the safety and rights of children online". However, these claims are hard to square with other evidence. High error rates Yesterday the ABC reported the trial found face-scanning technologies "repeatedly misidentified" children as young as 15 as being in their 20s and 30s. These tools could only guess children's ages "within an 18-month range in 85 percent of cases". This means a 14-year-old child might gain access to a social media account, while a 17-year-old might be blocked. This is in line with results of global trials of face-scanning technologies conducted for more than a decade. An ongoing series of studies of age estimation technology by the United States' National Institute of Standards and Technology shows the algorithms "fail significantly when attempting to differentiate minors" of various ages. The tests also show that error rates are higher for young women compared to young men. Error rates are also higher for people with darker skin tones. These studies show that even the best age-estimation software currently available - Yoti - has an average error of 1.0 years. Other software options mistake someone's age by 3.1 years on average. This means, at best, a 16-year-old might be estimated to be 15 or 17 years old; at worst, they could be seen to be 13 or 19 years of age. These error rates mean a significant number of children under 16 could access social media accounts despite a ban being in place, while some over 16 could be blocked. Yoti also explains businesses needing to check exact ages (such as 18) can set higher age thresholds (such as 25), so fewer people under 18 get through the age check. This approach would be similar to that taken in Australia's retail liquor sector, where sales staff verify ID for anyone who appears to be under the age of 25. However, many young people lack the government-issued ID required for an additional age check. It's also worth remembering that in August 2023, the Australian government acknowledged that the age assurance technology market was "immature" and could not yet meet key requirements, such as working reliably without circumvention and balancing privacy and security. Outstanding questions We don't yet know exactly what methods platforms will use to verify account holders' ages. While face-scanning technologies are often discussed, they could use other methods to confirm age. The government trial also tested voice and hand movements to guess young people's ages. But those methods also have accuracy issues. And it's not yet clear what recourse people will have if their age is misidentified. Will parents be able to complain if children under 16 gain access to accounts, despite restrictions? Will older Australians who are incorrectly blocked be able to appeal? And if so, to whom? There are other outstanding questions. What's stopping someone who's under 16 from getting someone who is over 16 to set up an account on their behalf? To mitigate this risk, the government might require all social media users to verify their age at regular intervals. It's also unclear what level of age estimation error the government may be willing to accept in implementing a social media ban. The legislation says technology companies must demonstrate they have taken "reasonable steps" to prevent under 16s from holding social media accounts. What is considered "reasonable" is yet to be clearly defined. Australians will have to wait until later this year for the full results of the government's trial to be released, and to know how technology companies will respond. With less than six months until the ban comes into effect, social media users still don't have all the answers they need.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
Why General Mills discontinued cereals like Medley Crunch and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios
This week, cereal lovers everywhere spotted empty shelf space where beloved Cheerios once stood and must be wondering why. General Mills confirmed that Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios, and the 18‑oz size of Honey Nut Cheerios Minis have officially been discontinued, as reported by ABC News. While the smaller 10.8‑oz minis remain available, these full‑size options have been quietly phased out. On social media, disappointment surged. An anonymous cereal blogger first flagged the pull via Instagram, which spread quickly through Reddit and other fan forums. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo On their website, these products have nearly 200 five‑star reviews for Medley Crunch and some 50 for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios. They have built strong niche followings, but not enough to keep the products afloat, especially as newer, more profitable lines are replacing them. Why did General Mills discontinue the popular breakfast cereals? Live Events Though the company hasn't pinpointed a single reason, its statement cites three key factors: demand declines, ingredient sourcing issues, and ongoing supply‑chain constraints. General Mills clarified it must maintain 'high quality and competitive pricing,' hinting that production costs or complexity may no longer justify these lines amid a shifting portfolio. That shift appears strategic. Recent commentary in Fast Company highlights General Mills' refocus on protein‑enhanced offerings like the new Cheerios Protein cinnamon, strawberry, and cookies‑and‑cream flavors, alongside the revived Frosted Lemon Cheerios for summer. In effect, the company is prizing innovative, health‑and‑wellness aligned cereals over legacy indulgent flavors. Another possible driver is broader dietary pressures. Rising awareness of sugar, fat, and sodium in breakfast cereals, which experienced an 11 % increase in sugar content and may exceed 45 % of the American Heart Association's daily limit in a single bowl, has prompted industry players to reevaluate indulgent SKUs. Discontinuing richer formulas like Chocolate Peanut Butter and Medley Crunch could be a response to healthier consumer trends, regulatory scrutiny, or internal nutrition targets. General Mills continues to reassure fans that discontinued items aren't gone forever. In response to ABC News' query, it stated that much like Frosted Lemon Cheerios, which returned by popular demand, they continue to listen to their fans as they evolve their offerings.
