AlterEgo: The AI That Lives Inside Your Head
Ever since computers were invented, there has been a constant effort to make them smarter and more powerful. We started with abacuses, then progressed to room-sized machines, desktops, and now computers that fit in our pockets. Now, we are even designing artificial intelligence to automate tasks that require human intelligence. Throughout the history of computing, computers have always been treated as external devices that compute and act on our behalf. But what if we could integrate computing, AI, and the internet into our own bodies? What if we could combine the best of human and machine intelligence to augment ourselves? This is the idea behind AlterEgo, a wearable device that allows you to have a conversation with an AI that lives inside your head.
The AlterEgo device is a thin, flexible, and transparent sticker that sits on your neck. It has sensors that pick up on the weak signals sent by your brain to your internal speech systems when you articulate words internally. These signals are then analyzed by an AI program, which figures out what you are trying to say. The device then uses bone conduction to transmit the AI's response to your inner ear, overlaying it on top of your natural hearing without blocking it. This creates the subjective experience of having an interface inside your head that you can talk to, just like talking to yourself.
The potential applications of AlterEgo are vast. Imagine being able to silently communicate by perfectly memorizing information and hearing it later when you need it. Imagine being able to internally search for information or perform complex calculations at the speed of a computer. Imagine silently texting other people or becoming multilingual by speaking in one language and hearing the translation in your head. These possibilities could have far-reaching implications.
Furthermore, AlterEgo has the potential to greatly benefit individuals who struggle with using natural speech, such as those with conditions like ALS, stroke, or oral cancer. For example, Doug, who has ALS and lost the ability to speak, can now communicate in real time using the device. This opens up the possibility for millions of people to communicate with others more easily and efficiently.
When developing AlterEgo, the design team prioritized ethics. The device does not read your thoughts; it only records deliberate information that you want to communicate through deliberate engagement of your internal speech systems. The goal is for the technology to disappear completely, with a sticker version that blends into the skin. The aim is to augment human capabilities in the background, rather than making technology a visible and intrusive presence.