Would you have a chip in your brain? — Elon Musk’s Neuralink says they can implant one.
Yes, we are talking about embedding microchips in the human brain. A direct interface between the brain and computers.
Neuralink was formed in 2016 and has since raised 373 million US Dollars in funding, toward the most revolutionary technology of mankind. The ultimate goal with Neuralink is to create an embeddable device that allows human intelligence to directly interface and eventually merge with AI.
Neuralink’s brain-computer interface or BCI uses thousands of small electrodes placed in the brain to read signals emitted by neurons. The software then decodes the signals into actions such as moving a cursor or scrolling through the computer. As quoted by Musk at the 2019 launch event the company’s device would eventually allow people to achieve a
“Symbiosis with artificial intelligence.”
Precedent to Neuralink;
Before Neuralink some precessors developed such technologies;
Vagus nerve stimulation:
Involves the implantation of a device which sends electrical pulses through the vagus nerve and into the brainstem. It is a treatment that is used to treat epilepsy.
Cochlear Implant:
Another example is implanted under the skin and sends signals from the external microphone to the auditory nerve.
However, both these devices are much more primitive compared to what Neuralink is expecting to be able to achieve.
There are successors to Neuralink who are also working toward BCI. Like
- Synchron, in 2021 implanted a brain-computer interface in a human being for the first time in the US after having received FDA approval.
- Another company named Axoft, on October 2022 raised 8 million US Dollars to build a device made of soft and flexible materials.
At this point, the researchers are not starting from starch when it comes to the Brain-computer interface.
How will Neuralink work?
According to their website. Neiralink will be designed to connect to thousands of neurons within our brains. Neurons are the cells which make up our brain and central nervous system. It’s the way the information from our mind “moves forward” travels from thought to physically taking a step forward.
The company demonstrated a surgical robot that it claims is capable of safely implanting a Neuralink chip onto the human brain by precisely interesting electrode threads into a person’s brain while avoiding all the critical blood vessels.
The current size of the chip is around the size of a US quarter and musk claims that it is the same thickness as the piece of skull that needs to be removed to implant it, making it completely unobtrusive, unlike other brain-computer interface devices which have visible wires a comparatively larger.
Real-world application of Neuralink
A few of the real-world applications for Neuralink’s chip claims are;
- To restore vision in people who have lost their sight.
- For a paralyzed person to interface with a computer by being able to type and love cursor with their brain signals.
- Communication system transmitted via Bluetooth to a smart speaker or other devices for someone who has been diagnosed with ALS.
This could allow them to browse the internet, order groceries or book appointments by just using their mind to control the keyboard and mouse. It is a game-changing technology and Elon musk stated that “We’re confident there are no physical limitations to restoring full body functionality” for people with severed spinal cords.
As far as long-term applications, the possibilities are almost endless. During one of the demos Elon Musk stated,
“I could have a Neuralink device implanted right now and you wouldn’t even know. Hypothetically,” he said to audience cheers. “Maybe one of these demos — in fact, one of these demos, I will.”
And this year the company has planned to start human trials. With endless possibilities, this technology could be life-changing for people with disabilities to improve their memory and cognitive function.
