Tags: neuroscience

Researchers from Tianjin University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that while listeners often fail to consciously distinguish real human speech from synthetic AI voices, their brains begin to tag subtle acoustic differences after brief exposure. Using EEG caps, the study revealed early neural responses that separate real and AI speech within milliseconds, highlighting a gap between unconscious perception and conscious decision‑making. The findings suggest the auditory system is already adapting to AI‑generated voices, offering hope for future tools that could help people translate these neural cues into reliable detection of deepfake audio. Read more

The AI community is revisiting the possibility of machine consciousness following a high‑profile incident involving Blake Lemoine and a subsequent 88‑page report by leading computer scientists and philosophers. The report, which adopts computational functionalism, argues that no current AI systems are conscious but sees no obvious barriers to creating conscious machines. Critics highlight the report’s reliance on unproven assumptions, the difficulty of measuring consciousness, and the moral implications of machines that could suffer. The discussion now centers on whether AI can ever truly replicate human‑like awareness and what ethical responsibilities would arise. Read more

Merge Labs, a brain‑computer interface startup co‑founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is being spun out of the nonprofit Forest Neurotech. The new venture will focus on using ultrasound to read brain activity, a technique that differs from the electrical‑based approaches of rivals like Neuralink. Forest Neurotech’s leadership—including CEO Sumner Norman and chief scientific officer Tyson Aflalo—are among the co‑founders, along with Altman and other tech entrepreneurs. The company aims to create a non‑invasive, whole‑brain interface that could enable advanced neurological treatments and augmentation capabilities. Read more

Researchers led by Shin have pinpointed a distinct group of neurons in the primary visual cortex that facilitate local pattern completion, a process tied to the perception of illusory contours. While the study confirmed the neurons' causal role through optogenetic stimulation, it did not assess behavioral outcomes, noting current technical limits on the number of neurons that can be activated. Future experiments aim to expand stimulation scope to explore potential behavioral responses. Read more