Over the last few months, science fiction is becoming less and less fiction. Brain waves converted into images thanks to artificial intelligence confirm this. The first milestone on this path was established by scientists from the University of Texas in Austin (United States). They converted human thoughts into text.
They generated participants' thoughts without the need for brain stimulation using a custom AI model similar to ChatGPT. The model identified patterns in brain activity and translated them into text. Now, the activity of the human brain can be converted into visual images. Experts from the National Institutes of Quantum Science and Technology and Osaka University (Japan) did it. They used a technology known as “brain decoding.” Pushes the boundaries of neural science and the potential of AI in healthcare and communications.

Drawing the thought
«It is a monumental achievement. “We humans have 'looked' inside another person's head for the first time,” explains the project's principal investigator, Kei Majima. Participants were shown 1,200 images of objects and landscapes while inside an MRI machine. And they were introduced into the generative artificial intelligence model to understand its correspondence with brain activity.
They were then shown new images on the fMRI. The system detected the patient's brain waves and generated an abbreviated description of those brain waves. Using an AI imager, it produced a facsimile of what the participant thought they saw.
The match was approximately 84% effective. It allowed for more complex visualizations, such as animals and objects, as the results of the experiment have proven. Among other detailed reconstructions was also an image of an airplane with red lights on its wings.

The dangers
The research has profound implications for our understanding of the human brain. It marks a path forward in what could be a revolution for the practical-medical landscape. It could transform the way professionals communicate with patients who cannot verbalize their thoughts. Even exploring the intricate mechanisms behind dreams and hallucinations for all types of patients.
Brain waves converted into images have a dangerous side. Access to absolutely private matters (or even fantasies) of each individual has a risk. Companies or individuals with bad intentions could misuse such information. Would you like someone to be able to read your thoughts?