AI and Bionics: Restoring Movement and Sensation

At the University of Utah’s Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, artificial intelligence is at the heart of groundbreaking research that is transforming lives. Led by Jacob A. George, Solzbacher-Chen Endowed Professor, the lab uses AI to design and build bionic devices that restore sensory and motor function for individuals with life-altering neuromuscular impairments. George is the Solzbacher-Chen Endowed Professor in the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; his lab bridges academic disciplines as well as the divide between the physical and digital.

This work goes beyond theory and delivers tangible benefits. Patients have shared powerful testimonials about how these technologies have improved their quality of life, and several startup companies have emerged to bring these innovations to market. The research represents a unique intersection of engineering, medicine, and AI, making prosthetics and other assistive devices easier and more intuitive to use.

“Bionics is an exciting application of AI,” Jacob explains. “You can see the physical device and the real-world impact it has on patients. It makes AI in healthcare tangible and inspiring.”

The lab’s efforts highlight how AI can do more than improve diagnostics. It can create life-changing solutions that restore independence and mobility. With a long lineage of faculty collaborators, industry partners, and funding agencies supporting this work, the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab is shaping the future of assistive technology.

Contributors: Jacob A. George and the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab team

For more information, contact Communications Director Evan Lerner: evan.lerner@utah.edu