cyborg

Once considered a fictional being that's half machine, half human, and made of bionic flesh, this type of robot is becoming closer to reality.

Brain-computer interfaces have helped paralyzed people walk, helped restore touch and speech, and assisted with other movement problems including a stroke, Parkingson's and ALS. They've also been used to treat brain disorders, addiction, depression and traumatic brain injuries.  

Historical perspective: In 2006, the first paralyzed patient was implanted with a brain-computer interface through Cyberkinetics. In 2018, scientists in Japan created a "biohybrid robot" in which muscle tissue grown in a lab is attached to a robotic skeleton to help machines grasp objects and move. And in January 2024, Elon Musk's company Neuralink implanted the first patient with its brain chip technology.