It looks like we're officially one step closer to having actual telepathic conversations, or at least a gadget that convincingly fakes it. A new AI wearable was announced recently that lets two people communicate completely silently, just by thinking. The device, called Alterego, was developed at MIT Media Lab and works by picking up the subtle neural signals your brain sends right before you actually speak. You don't have to say a word or even move your mouth; the AI can "hear" what you're about to say. It then beams a response back to you through a bone-conduction speaker, so only you can hear it. While this isn't the first we've seen of this tech (a clunkier prototype appeared back in 2018), the new version is smaller, smarter, and ready to make science fiction a reality. While it can't capture thought, the company describes Alterego as "the world's first near-telepathic wearable that enables silent communication at the speed of thought." It's not telepathy, but by interpreting your inner voice, it's a step toward speech without speaking. Alterego has an embedded camera system that will allow you to point to something you see and ask about it silently. In a demonstration video, CEO Arnav Kapur circles the face of a character on a postcard, asks who it is (without speaking) and receives a response with the character's details. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. You can also use the wearable to set reminders, control your device hands-free and type, all as fast as you can think. It gets even more interesting when two different people wear the device. You can hold silent conversations with each other, and even have your message translated into another language for the receiver. Since Alterego uses your brain signals and mouth movements to detect what you want to say, communication isn't affected by external sounds or motions. The device could also prove to be a huge medical win, as it can restore speech to those who have lost it due to illness or other impairments. Alterego believes this is just the beginning and that it's "building a future where humans and AI collaborate at the speed of thought, bridging the gap between mind and machine." You can sign up for early access when the wearable is available at alterego.io.