The brain implant industry is one step closer to a public debut
Image: Neuralink
Cyberpunk 2077 will have to be changed to Cyberpunk 2027 â because the original seems to have been off by a few years. This week, Neuralink CEO Elon Musk revealed that his startup has created a cyborg implanted its brain chip in a human patient for the first time.
- The recipient is ârecovering wellâ and initial data from the device is promising, per Musk, though he didnât provide any further details on the procedure.
The basics: Neuralinkâs first brain-computer interface (BCI) product, called Telepathy, is initially aimed at human patients who have lost use of their limbs, with future plans to offer it more widely.
The device is implanted in the part of the human brain that controls movement, where it interprets a personâs neural activity so they can control external devices â like smartphones and computers â using only their thoughts.
- The company has already successfully tested its BCI technology in animals, including a 2021 experiment where a monkey played the video game Pong using only its thoughts.
Looking ahead⌠While its initial BCI implant is focused on giving humans the ability to control computers like the robot from Avengers: Age of Ultron, the company has also announced future plans for implants that could help people learn languages, communicate thoughts mentally, or âsolveâ brain-related disorders like schizophrenia.
However, experts say any such applications wonât make it in the publicâs hands for at least a decade, since Neurolink first has to prove its BCI technology is safe and effective in humans via a series of years-long clinical trials.
đ§ Zoom out: Other groups working on similar brain implants have made significant strides in recent years.
- Two of Neuralinkâs main rivals â Blackrock Neurotech and Synchron â have successfully tested their BCI devices in human patients.
- Swiss researchers used BCI technology to create mind-controlled avatars that allowed two patients to âspeakâ for the first time in over a decade.
- China this week announced plans to bring government-developed BCI products to market as early as 2025.
đ Flash poll: If given the opportunity, would you want an implant in your brain that gave you heightened mental abilities?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying â
Sprinkles in favor of brain-computer interfaces
- Some commentators argue that BCI technology is more than just Elon Muskâs musings on the future of humanity, and could provide real value in helping paralyzed people interact with the world around them.
- Others contend that BCIs have existed for a few decades and havenât affected humansâ autonomy so far, and that the current technology is still a long way from causing worry and should be encouraged, not feared.
- âBrain-to-Text Technology Is About More Than Muskâ âLisa Jarvis, Bloomberg
- âShould we fear or encourage mind control?â âArthur Caplan, Michael Pourfar, and Alon Y. Mogilner, Boston Globe
- âComputers Will Soon Read Your Mindâ âDan Furman, WSJ
Sprinkles against brain-computer interfaces
- Some commentators argue that directly connecting the human brain to the internet is a terrible idea given the internetâs current hyper-personalized algorithms enticing you to click, scroll, and waste time endlessly.
- Others contend that Neuralinkâs BCI technology should be regarded with extreme caution, since the company has yet to provide any safety data on its use in animal test subjects â much less in human patients.
- âElon, Please Keep the Internet Out of Our Brainsâ âParmy Olson, Bloomberg
- âWhy approval for Elon Muskâs Neuralink for humans is a bad ideaâ âSimantini Ghosh, The Indian Express
- âWould you let Elon Musk implant a device in your brain?â âTyler Cowen, Bloomberg
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