Elon Musk-owned neurotechnology company, Neuralink, is working on a clinical trial to explore how the company's technology could help restore autonomy in the daily life of patients. Kenneth, a patient in its trial, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2024, which led to a gradual decline in his speech.
As part of Neuralink's VOICE clinical trial, Kenneth has been able to translate his thoughts into speech. The company shared the details of the clinical trial in a video shared on X. “When you haven't heard someone talk for four years, the thought that they might be able to talk again was mind-blowing,” Kenneth's wife, Cheryl, is seen saying in the video.
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“When you haven't heard someone talk for four years, the thought that they might be able to talk again was mind blowing." pic.twitter.com/KasDacgKzs
— Neuralink (@neuralink) March 31, 2026
Through the VOICE clinical trial, Neuralink said it is investigating how brain-computer interfaces can help people with severe speech impairments regain the ability to communicate.
“When he (Kenneth) learned about Neuralink, he discovered that brain-computer interfaces have the potential to restore communication by translating thought into speech. Now, as a participant in Neuralink's VOICE clinical trial, he is pioneering technology that could give voices back to those who have lost them,” the company said.
ALS has gradually taken away Kenneth's ability to speak. Through Neuralink's VOICE clinical trial, he's exploring how a brain-computer interface designed to translate thought to speech could help restore autonomy in his daily life.
— Neuralink (@neuralink) March 24, 2026
Watch to learn more: pic.twitter.com/C9QufqhI6R
Speaking to Neuralink, Cheryl shared that the device will bring back the “OG Ken” from way back in 2020 before his voice changed. The clip also included an audio recording of Kenneth from 2020, in which he spoke in a clear tone. However, when he spoke with Neuralink in the video, his speech appeared disoriented. According to his wife, they first noticed changes in his voice during the Covid-19 pandemic. In January 2024, they received the diagnosis that he had ALS.
Explaining Kenneth's situation, Skyler Granatir, an engineer with Neuralink, said: “In ALS, you have neuron degeneration. You are unable to transport signals from the brain to the muscles. It's like a severed internet cable.”
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He added that with the brain-computer interface, one can bypass this path completely, and read directly from the brain to the device. According to Neuralink, Kenneth is the second patient to receive a Neuralink implant for voice. With this technology, he will be able to think and the device will speak for him. The device will even sound like Kenneth, adding a personal touch. To be clear, Neuralink's devices are currently in investigational stages and not FDA-approved or commercially available.
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