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Elon Musk’s Startup Creates Dystopian Brain Implant That Will Link Your Brain To A Computer
Two years ago, Elon Musk became a CEO of yet another company. The startup he created is called Neuralink which began operating with a hair-raising aim – to find a way to merge the human brain with a computer. While it sounds like yet another Black Mirror episode, a couple of days ago, the tech entrepreneur announced that the technology his highly secretive company has been working on could begin human trials next year.
More info: neuralink.com
Something we could only imagine in a science fiction plot has taken one step closer to becoming a reality.
Neuralink was launched in 2017 and raised $158 million to develop “ultra-high bandwidth brain-machine interfaces to connect humans and computers”.
It only took them 2 years to develop the technology which was introduced on July 16 by Elon Musk and the Neuralink team.
The company created a robot surgeon which drills 8mm holes into a human skull and sews in electrodes with a tiny needle avoiding harming any blood vessels.
The electrodes are called the threads and are smaller in width to a human hair. “The threads are about the same size as a neuron. If you’re going to stick something in your brain, you want it to be tiny — approximately on par with the things that are already there,” Musk said.
The threads will be attached to a small chip which will wirelessly connect to a phone. “The interface to the chip is wireless so you have no wires poking out of your head. It basically Bluetooths to your phone,” the entrepreneur said.
Currently, the company aims to help out people with brain and spinal cord injuries or congenital defects, however, the long-term goal is much more ambitious. “Ultimately, we can do full brain-machine interfaces where we can achieve a sort of symbiosis with AI,” Musk said.
While the company’s research successfully tested the technology on animals, the next big step into making this a reality is to get approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to start clinical trials on humans. If the company succeeds in scoring FDA approval, the trials may start as soon as next year.
Watch the livestream of the Neuralink Launch Event below
Here’s how people reacted to the news
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Virgil Blue 5 years ago
Great news for all people with a spinal injury. And maybe altered carbon style mind storage. Sad we couldn't use it to store Stephen Hawking.
Katrina Beck 5 years ago
I feel like this could be a new freedom for, as they said people with spinal injuries or other medical issues. Imagine being trapped in a body like a prison and then offered a price of technology to be able To communicate again. Wonderful what technology can do!
Virgil Blue 5 years ago
A novel called Lock in features people totally paralyzed by a disease piloting full body drones via implants like these so they can be part of normal society.
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Parmeisan 5 years ago
I think this technology is fantastic.... but that's really funny, so I'll upvote you even though I disagree.
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hispanic! at the disco 5 years ago
This is so crazy, this is literally sci fi s**t. This has so many possibilities if it's continued right. Orrrr it could end up in disaster. I'm extremely curious, and I'll be following this story. We'll see where this ends up.
Bored Llama 5 years ago
I cant control my own brain... how do you expect a few wires to do it? haha
Cristian A. 5 years ago
Imagine making alloc those people spend money on facebook ads and products they want them them to and
Laura Sebastian 5 years ago
I think we all need to re-read "Feed" by MT Anderson!! :/ Immediately.
Donna Faye 5 years ago
I can see so many things going wrong if I was a human trial: "What about WiFi? What is my password again? I need an update..."
The Cute Cat 5 years ago
You could end up getting a brain infection. Bacteria or virus could travel by the wire directly to your brain. And also the technology that enable input from any sensor to brain is not yet exist. Not even sensor to a muscle. This is still way too far for current technology
MusicPlayz 5 years ago
Marie Lu Warcross and Wildcard is a book series about this kind of stuff and it doesn't end greatly. Really good book btw
Virgil Blue 5 years ago
Lock in is a novel about these kinds of brain implants where they actually become a net positive e for society.
Load More Replies...
NoobMaster69 5 years ago
Probably a robot in leagues with mark zuckerburg to advance robot control. It would explain a lot, especially the flamethrower.
Load More Replies... Virgil Blue 5 years ago
Great news for all people with a spinal injury. And maybe altered carbon style mind storage. Sad we couldn't use it to store Stephen Hawking.
Katrina Beck 5 years ago
I feel like this could be a new freedom for, as they said people with spinal injuries or other medical issues. Imagine being trapped in a body like a prison and then offered a price of technology to be able To communicate again. Wonderful what technology can do!
Virgil Blue 5 years ago
A novel called Lock in features people totally paralyzed by a disease piloting full body drones via implants like these so they can be part of normal society.
Load More Replies... Parmeisan 5 years ago
I think this technology is fantastic.... but that's really funny, so I'll upvote you even though I disagree.
Load More Replies... hispanic! at the disco 5 years ago
This is so crazy, this is literally sci fi s**t. This has so many possibilities if it's continued right. Orrrr it could end up in disaster. I'm extremely curious, and I'll be following this story. We'll see where this ends up.
Bored Llama 5 years ago
I cant control my own brain... how do you expect a few wires to do it? haha
Cristian A. 5 years ago
Imagine making alloc those people spend money on facebook ads and products they want them them to and
Laura Sebastian 5 years ago
I think we all need to re-read "Feed" by MT Anderson!! :/ Immediately.
Donna Faye 5 years ago
I can see so many things going wrong if I was a human trial: "What about WiFi? What is my password again? I need an update..."
The Cute Cat 5 years ago
You could end up getting a brain infection. Bacteria or virus could travel by the wire directly to your brain. And also the technology that enable input from any sensor to brain is not yet exist. Not even sensor to a muscle. This is still way too far for current technology
MusicPlayz 5 years ago
Marie Lu Warcross and Wildcard is a book series about this kind of stuff and it doesn't end greatly. Really good book btw
Virgil Blue 5 years ago
Lock in is a novel about these kinds of brain implants where they actually become a net positive e for society.
Load More Replies... NoobMaster69 5 years ago
Probably a robot in leagues with mark zuckerburg to advance robot control. It would explain a lot, especially the flamethrower.
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