That’s the lofty aim of the team at Neuralink. Today, we’ll delve into Neuralink’s technology, its recent breakthroughs, and the exciting yet challenging future it represents
Neuralink is a company co-founded by Elon Musk in 2016 and headquartered in California. It boasts a robust team of 400 employees and has secured funding upwards of 363 million dollars that’s pushing the boundaries of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) with the goal of creating a direct line of communication between our brains and machines. BCIs are devices that can capture brain signals and translate them into digital commands.
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a technology that enables direct communication between the brain and external devices, such as computers or prosthetics, without using traditional neuromuscular pathways like nerves and muscles.
It aims to revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders such as ALS, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. Neuralink’s primary product, “Telepathy,” focuses on this aspect.
So, how does Neuralink’s technology work?
Imagine implanting a tiny chip roughly the size of five stacked coins, known as the N1, directly into the human brain. This acts like a Fitbit for your brain. Just like how a Fitbit tracks your heart rate and translates it into data, the chip reads neural activity through microscopic threads, essentially eavesdropping on the brain’s internal communication. This neural activity is then translated into digital signals and wirelessly transmitted to seperate processing device like a laptop via Bluetooth. Here, the complex code of brain activity is deciphered, allowing users to control external devices or software applications with their thoughts alone.
The journey of Neuralink reached a significant milestone in May 2023 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved human clinical trials. Subsequently,
Neuralink conducted its first human implant of the brain chip on January 29 this year. The procedure was conducted on Noland Arbaugh, a quadriplegic (refers to someone paralyzed from the shoulder down) who was reported to be recovering well after the surgery.
In another significant breakthrough, Neuralink released a video in the 3rd week of March showcasing Noland, controlling a computer cursor with his mind. This 29-year-old became the first to send a tweet using just his thoughts, further highlighting the potential of this technology.
Implantation
Neuralink’s implant eliminates the need for wires, broadening its applications beyond basic cursor control, as demonstrated by Arbaugh even playing online chess, something that he could not have done on his own before the surgery.
Fast forward to the year 2045. Imagine having your Neuralink enhancement that allows you to interface directly with any bluetooth enabled device just by thinking and if that device happens to support a powerful artificial intelligence software then you’ve essentially now linked your mind directly to AI creating a whole new layer of processing power on top of your biological hardware. This is the symbiosis that Elon Musk is always talking about.
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