How far has brain-reading technology actually progressed?

The answer

Brain-reading technology has advanced dramatically using AI and neuroimaging. In 2023, University of Texas researchers used fMRI data and GPT-language models to reconstruct continuous language from brain activity - decoding the gist of stories subjects heard or imagined with surprising accuracy, all without any surgical implants. Osaka University researchers reconstructed high-resolution images from brain activity using Stable Diffusion AI in 2023, producing recognizable reproductions of what subjects were viewing. Meta AI developed a system in 2024 that decodes speech in real-time from magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings with up to 73% accuracy. For implanted systems, the BrainGate consortium enabled a paralyzed woman to generate text at 62 words per minute through thought alone, approaching natural speech rates. Ethical concerns around mental privacy have prompted proposed "neurorights" legislation in Chile (enacted 2021) and proposed bills in multiple US states and the European Parliament.