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What does it truly mean to see—and how can technology restore one of our most essential human senses?
In this episode, Dr. José-Alain Sahel joins Kate O’Neill to reveal the breakthroughs in vision restoration, and how these innovations are shaping the future of human experience.
Topics Covered:
Optogenetic therapy and vision restoration
Artificial retina technology
Scientific and patient journey of regaining sight
Convergence of AI, neuroscience, and medical devices
Philosophy of sight and perception
Natural vs. artificial boundaries in biotech
Balancing innovation and patient safety
Strategies for treating different stages of blindness
Meaning and legacy of vision technologies
Connect with: Dr. José-Alain Sahel
The Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh
UPMC Enterprises
Episode Chapters:
00:00:05 – Welcome to the Tech Humanist Show
00:01:14 – Introduction of Dr. José-Alain Sahel
00:02:29 – 2021 Optogenetic Vision Restoration Breakthrough
00:02:46 – Recent Artificial Retina Breakthrough (2025)
00:03:47 – The First Patient’s Experience
00:06:31 – Explaining the Technology: Algae Proteins & Retinal Cells
00:09:00 – Scientific Process: Failures, Persistence, and Progress
00:10:13 – How the Goggles Work
00:11:03 – Training the Brain to Interpret New Visual Input
00:11:24 – The Patient’s Story: From Blindness to Seeing Again
00:16:07 – Philosophical Perspective on Sight and Perception
00:20:02 – Measuring Human Experience in Vision Restoration
00:23:26 – Natural vs. Artificial: Ethics and Human Augmentation
00:26:19 – Balancing Innovation with Patient Safety in Clinical Trials
00:29:53 – Complementary Strategies for Blindness Treatment
00:31:34 – Vision, Meaning, and Human Flourishing
00:34:41 – Where to Find More About Dr. Sahel’s Work
00:35:49 – Episode Credits & Outro
