And if paralysis were to stop being a physical limit and become just a technological challenge, on December 17, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced a historic breakthrough in brain-computer interfaces. A man with complete paralysis managed to interact with the real world again using only brain signals.
The work was conducted by the Center of Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology,
CEBSIT , and marks the first demonstration of stable and continuous control of multiple robotic systems in the real world using a fully implanted, wire-free brain interface.
The patient known as Mr. Zen suffered a serious spinal cord injury in 2022, leaving him without voluntary movements below the neck. After more than a year of conventional rehabilitation without significant progress, he entered the clinical trial of the new brain-computer interface.
In June, surgeons implanted the WRS01 system at Huangan Hospital in Shanghai, small flexible electrodes were inserted into the brain to capture neural signals connected to a chip embedded directly in the skull, an external device supplies wireless power and receives those signals, within a few weeks of training, Zen could already control a computer cursor with just thought, without physical movements.
In simple terms, the brain sends electrical signals, the AI interprets those signals and transforms them into digital commands almost instantly, but the advancement did not stop on the screen, Zen went on to command robotic buts capable of searching for objects, in addition to operating a smart wheelchair that put him on his feet again and even allowed him to move outdoors, including going down stairs without help.
Technology gave him back a good degree of independence, even to work using only brain control, Zen does paid remote work, monitoring vending machines from a distance, it is the first known case of an ABCI test participant carrying out a real professional activity.
This result is reminiscent of the idea of telepathy defended by Elon Musk, but with a decisive difference, while Western trials still focus on simple games and controlled demonstrations, the Chinese system already works in everyday life integrated with theft, wheelchairs and real work, this is only possible thanks to a complete and advanced ecosystem, mature robotics, fast wireless networks and semiconductor manufacturing, all operating in an integrated way.
The researchers also reduced the delay between thought and action to less than 100 milliseconds, faster than the natural transmission of signals in the human body; with continued use, Zen's brain began to use fewer neurons for the same control, making the experience more natural and less tiring.
With the next version of the system, the WRS02, promising even more neural channels, including direct open coding, it is already clear that human beings will be able to control machines with their minds, but to what extent can this function between brain and technology redefine what it means to be human
