Accessibility · November 2026Kudos level: Bravo
A Digital Twin Speaks and Gestures for a Man With ALS
A UCSF brain-computer interface lets Walter, whose ALS made his speech unintelligible within six months, speak through a personalized avatar. One implant reads attempted speech and gestures together, so the avatar can say hello while waving or offer a handshake. In real-time tests it decoded speech with 70% accuracy and gestures with 66%, using 10 preset phrases and gestures.
Source: Popular Mechanics
Google AI Falsely Links Auckland Anaesthetic Technician to Drink-Driving Convictions
Google's AI Overview accused Tracey Melsom-Page, an Auckland anaesthetic technician with 39 years in public hospitals and no criminal history, of drink-driving convictions and lying about them, based on a 2023 Herald article that never named her. When the Herald questioned it, the AI doubled down, claiming tribunal records identified her, before admitting a 'logical error.' Google says it is investigating.
Source: NZ Herald