First reported 2 years ago, a 17 year old used AI to build a Mind-Controlled Prosthetic. Where is he now?
Seventeen-year-old Benjamin Choi recognized a major issue: prosthetic limbs are exorbitantly expensive—comparable models cost $450,000—and often require invasive brain implants.
Determined to find a better solution, he developed a mind-controlled prosthetic that can be built for under $300.
His design uses small electrodes placed on the forehead to detect brain activity, converting those signals into movement. To make it work, he trained an AI system with thousands of brainwave data points, wrote over 23,000 lines of code, and sifted through nearly 900 pages of calculus.
The result? A low-cost, non-invasive prosthetic that rivals industry-leading models—created by a teenager.
As of February 2025, Benjamin Choi’s groundbreaking work in developing an affordable, non-invasive, mind-controlled prosthetic arm continues to gain recognition. His design utilizes external sensors placed on the forehead and earlobe to interpret brain signals without the need for surgery, significantly reducing costs compared to traditional prosthetics. dataglobalhub.org+1instagram.com+1
In 2022, Choi’s innovation earned him a $50,000 scholarship as a Davidson Fellow Laureate. He also received recognition as a finalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search and was honored by the White House as a 2022 United States Presidential Scholar. smithsonianmag.com+2davidsongifted.org+2dataglobalhub.org+2
Choi is currently pursuing his studies at Harvard University, where he aims to further his research in engineering and artificial intelligence, with a focus on enhancing the accessibility and functionality of prosthetic devices.
For more, watch this:
And here are the instructions to make your own.
https://www.instructables.com/Creating-a-Working-Brain-Controlled-Transhumeral-P/
