A man afflicted with ALS has become the first person in the world to control an Amazon Alexa digital assistant through his thoughts — thanks to a brain implant created by a New York-based neurotech startup.

Mark, a 64-year old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, has had a brain computer interface (BCI) fitted that enables him to control his smart home via the Tap to Alexa feature on his Amazon Fire tablet. The trial marks the first use of Amazon’s Alexa by a patient implanted with a BCI from US-based company Synchron.

Neuralink rival Synchron is connecting its brain–computer interface with consumer technologies to allow people with paralysis more functionality.