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What are the Pros and Cons of Elon Musk's Brain Chip Neuralink?

What are the Pros and Cons of Elon Musk’s Brain Chip Neuralink?

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What are the Pros and Cons of Elon Musk's Brain Chip Neuralink?

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Neuralink, a brainchild of visionary entrepreneur Elon Musk, is pushing the boundaries of technology with its ambitious mission to fuse human brains with computers. Founded in 2016, the company’s ultimate goal is to create ultra-high bandwidth brain-machine interfaces that can revolutionize how we interact with technology and each other.

The Promise and Perils of Neuralink

Pros:

  1. Enhanced Learning and Memory: Neuralink’s technology promises to unlock new levels of cognitive abilities, allowing humans to learn faster and remember more effectively.

  2. Improved Quality of Life: For individuals with disabilities, Neuralink offers hope by enabling them to regain lost functions such as mobility, vision, and hearing.

  3. Human-AI Collaboration: Seamless communication between humans and artificial intelligence is a game-changer, eliminating the need for external devices and enhancing productivity.

  4. Enhanced Connectivity: With Neuralink, connectivity issues may become a thing of the past, leading to better internet access and device connectivity.

Cons:

  1. Health Risks: Implanting neural devices carries inherent risks such as brain injury, infections, and long-term neurological effects.

  2. Privacy Concerns: The ability of Neuralink to access thoughts and memories raises serious privacy concerns, potentially leading to abuse and surveillance.

  3. Lack of Research: The long-term effects of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) remain largely unknown, necessitating thorough research and ethical considerations.

  4. Addiction and Mental Health: The allure of super-human abilities through BCIs may lead to addiction, anxiety, depression, and a disconnection from reality.

  5. Cost and Accessibility: BCIs, including Neuralink’s technology, may be prohibitively expensive, limiting accessibility to a privileged few.

  6. Technical Challenges: Removing or repairing BCIs presents technical challenges, including potential brain damage and complications during implantation.

While Neuralink holds immense potential to reshape human capabilities and foster technological advancements, it also poses significant ethical, health, and societal challenges that must be addressed. As society navigates this uncharted territory, a balanced approach integrating innovation with caution and ethical considerations is imperative to harness the benefits of Neuralink while mitigating its potential risks.

Neuralink's First Human Subject to Control a Computer Mouse with a Brain Chip Implant

Neuralink’s First Human Subject to Control a Computer Mouse with a Brain Chip Implant

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A major milestone has been reached by Elon Musk’s Neuralink, a pioneering brain-chip implant business, as the first human participant is able to successfully move a computer mouse with their thoughts alone.

Recuperated with Success and Amazing feat

Neuralink's First Human Subject to Control a Computer Mouse with a Brain Chip Implant

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The good news was revealed by Musk during a Spaces event on X. He said that the patient had fully recovered and there had been no reported side effects. The user can now easily navigate the mouse on the screen with just their thoughts, which is a significant breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology.

Regulatory Clearance and Clinical Investigations

An important turning point in the history of neurotechnology was marked last year when the FDA approved Neuralink’s first, in-human clinical research, starting the company on the path to this ground-breaking accomplishment. The business started the clinical study with the goal of creating a brain-machine interface that may treat different neurological disorders and impairments.

Brain-Computer Interface Revolutionised by the Neuralink Implant

Neuralink’s brain-chip implant is positioned to maximise its effect in the brain area in charge of the intention to move. Known as the N1 implant, it allows for smooth communication between the brain and external equipment by recording neural activity via 1,024 electrodes spaced over 64 very thin threads.

Exceeding Limits in Neurotechnology

Even if Neuralink’s accomplishment is a noteworthy turning point, other brain-computer interface firms compete with it. Elon Musk, meanwhile, sees a future in which people will be able to record and replay memories or even stream music straight into their brains—a notion that is evocative of the critically acclaimed television series “Black Mirror.” Neuralink’s ambition goes beyond medical uses.

Also Read: Techtaka Secures $9.5M Funding Boost for E-commerce Fulfillment Innovation

Prospects for the Future and Goals

Neuralink’s accomplishment in brain-controlled cursor movement is a significant step towards its eventual objective of enabling people with impairments to operate equipment only with their thoughts. The company’s innovative initiatives hold promise for a future in which technology will close the gap between human potential and physical limits, possibly changing the lives of millions of people worldwide.

 
Neuralink Implant Successfully Installed in Human, Elon Musk Confirms

Neuralink Implant Successfully Installed in Human, Elon Musk Confirms

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Elon Musk announced that the first human patient had gotten a brain implant from Neuralink, his brain-computer interface (BCI) technology business, on the social networking site X. The invention, called “Telepathy,” seeks to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and the human brain.

Informing about the human trial via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote, “The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well. Initial results show promising neuron spike detection."

“Enables control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking. Initial users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs. Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer. That is the goal." Musk followed up in another post.

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Neuralink’s Sucess Story

Neuralink Implant Successfully Installed in Human, Elon Musk Confirms

Last autumn, Neuralink began patient recruitment for a clinical study following permission from the US Food and Drug Administration and a hospital ethics board. Participants in the study must be at least 22 years old and have quadriplegia as a result of either amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or cervical spinal cord injury. The trial should last for six years.

The original intention of Neuralink was to allow paralysed people to use their brain impulses to control a keyboard or mouse. The business implants a coin-sized gadget into the part of the brain that controls movement intention using a surgical robot that it designed. Brain impulses are wirelessly recorded and sent by this gadget to an app that decodes them.

The patient is recovering properly, according to Elon Musk’s statement, and the initial findings show encouraging neuron spike detection. It will take some time for the patient to recuperate from surgery and complete a training phase, which usually lasts several weeks, before evaluating their ability to operate a computer or other device with the implant.

Despite being the first to investigate BCIs, Neuralink’s accomplishments represent a substantial step towards the eventual integration of artificial intelligence and humans. Academic labs have been working on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for years; early adopters took part in tests that allowed paralysed people to manipulate robotic limbs, play video games, and send emails with their thoughts.

With more than 1,000 electrodes spaced over 64 threads as thin as a human hair, Neuralink’s wireless BCI device is a significant improvement over conventional configurations. The company’s strategy tries to make BCIs more useful for at-home use.

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to Fixing Wireless Mouse Issues in Windows 11

Neuralink has encountered controversy despite its technological advancements, especially concerning how it handles study animals. A government probe was prompted after an examination in September found that several monkeys had died while undergoing brain implant testing. The business also had to pay fines for breaking hazardous material transportation regulations set out by the US Department of Transportation.

Neuralink is in competition with other businesses in the developing BCI market, but its new statement highlights how important it is to the advancement of neurotechnology. While there may be obstacles in the way of Musk’s goal of a seamless human-AI merger, Neuralink’s continued efforts mark a significant turning point in this exciting subject.

Elon Musk's Neuralink to Start the human trial of Brain implant for paralysis Patients

Elon Musk’s Neuralink to Start the human trial of Brain implant for paralysis Patients

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Neuralink, a brain-chip business founded by Elon Musk, declared on Tuesday that it received permission from an independent evaluation board to begin hiring volunteers for the first human trial of its brain implant intended for paralyzed people.

Elon Musk's Neuralink to Start the human trial of Brain implant for paralysis Patients
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The experiment will take into account those who have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or cervical spinal cord wounds that have caused paralysis, however, the precise number of individuals who will participate has not been made public. It is anticipated that the trial will last around six years.

The brain-computer interface (BCI) will be surgically implanted in the part of the brain that controls movement intentions as part of a Neuralink study. The initial objective is to empower.

Neuralink had initially planned to get permission to implant its gadget in ten patients.

However, due to concerns regarding safety highlighted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), discussions with the agency resulted in a probable decrease in the overall number of patients. The precise number of patients who received FDA approval is not yet public knowledge.

Elon Musk has bigger plans for Neuralink, hoping to make it easier to put its chip devices during surgery to treat issues including obesity, depression, autism, and schizophrenia. However, experts agree that even if the BCI gadget proves to be safe for human use throughout this study, it may take the business over ten years to obtain commercial usage permission.

Neuralink had previously announced that it had gotten FDA approval for its first human clinical study in May. However, the business was already being investigated by the government for how it handled animal experiments at the time.

Beginning this human study is a critical turning point for Neuralink and a step closer to realizing Elon Musk’s ambition of cutting-edge brain-chip technology.

Also Read: AI Startup Corti Raises $60 Million to Take on Microsoft in Health Care

Based on a report by WIRED, it is now clouded since concerns have been raised regarding claims made by the multi-billionaire surrounding the deaths of monkeys used in Neuralink’s research. According to the article, a medical ethics organization has requested that the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States (SEC) look into Musk’s assertions that the deaths of the monkeys had nothing to do with the implants made by Neuralink. The organization contends that veterinarian records show that implant-related issues were the real cause of the animals’ deaths.

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Neuralink brain chip to begin human trials in 6 months

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After the company missed prior deadlines he had set, Elon Musk said on Wednesday that he anticipates a wireless brain chip developed by his company Neuralink to start human clinical testing in six months.

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Elon Musk, a multibillionaire and the CEO of Twitter, stated on Wednesday that a wireless gadget built by Neuralink is set to start human clinical testing in six months. Neuralink is a neurotechnology company. According to Reuters, Musk stated that the restoration of vision is one of its initial intended uses.

The company, which has offices in Texas and the San Francisco Bay Area, has been involved in testing on animals as it waits for US regulatory approval for human clinical trials.

Read More: Elon Musk claims Apple has threatened to remove the Twitter app

Musk noted, “We want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device into a human. The progress at first, particularly as it applies to humans, will seem perhaps agonizingly slow, but we are doing all of the things to bring it to scale in parallel. “So, in theory, progress should be exponential.”

According to Musk, the Neuralink device’s first two human uses would be to restore vision and allow muscle movement in people who are unable to do so. Musk said, “Even if someone has never had a vision, ever, like they were born blind, we believe we can still restore vision.” A tiny device, electrode-laced wires, and a robot that removes a little portion of a person’s skull and inserts it into the brain are the components of the Neuralink product.

The event was initially scheduled for October 31 but Musk canceled it a few days early without providing a reason. More than a year ago, Neuralink gave its last public demonstration, which featured a monkey playing Pong on a computer.

Musk, who also owns the electric vehicle maker Tesla, the rocket company SpaceX, and the social networking site Twitter, is renowned for his aspirational plans to save humanity and colonize Mars. He holds the same lofty goals for Neuralink as well, which he founded in 2016.

He intends to create a chip that would enable the brain to control intricate electronic equipment, eventually restoring motor function to paralyzed persons and treating disorders of the brain including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. He also discusses combining artificial intelligence with the brain. However, Neuralink is going behind schedule.

In a 2019 presentation, Musk stated that his goal was to win regulatory permission by the end of 2020. Then, in late 2021, he declared at a conference that he wanted to begin human trials this year.

Current and former employees claim that Neuralink has routinely missed internal deadlines for obtaining FDA approval to begin human studies. According to Reuters, Musk approached rival Synchron early this year about a prospective investment after complaining to Neuralink staff members about their sluggish progress.

By successfully implanting its device in a patient in the United States for the first time in July, Synchron achieved a significant milestone. In 2021, it got regulatory approval from the US for use in human trials, and studies involving four Australians have been completed.

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Elon Musk’s Neuralink puts computer chips in a Pig’s brain to treat disease.

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On 29th August 2020, Elon Musk’s startup, Neuralink revealed a big experiment they are carrying out. The main source of the news is Reuters. Neuralink has put a coin-sized computer chip inside a pig’s brain for the past two months. The name of the pig is Gertrude and it is in the early stage of the experiment to analyze if the same concept can be applicable for human brains. According to Elon Musk, this can be a way to cure many diseases in the human body.

Neuralink is a neuroscience-based startup founded in 2016 by Tesla Inc and Elon Musk. Current experimentation of the company involves treating major human diseases by implanting wireless brain-computer interfaces. Musk delivered this news on a webcast last Friday. The timeline for human trials has not been mentioned yet.

Three little pigs

Musk has given a presentation virtually and it is called “three little pigs” demo. The demo showed Gertrude, the pig whose brain has been implanted with the computer chip in a position that controls the snout. After some coaxing by Elon Musk, it began performing some activities like eating off a stool and sniffing the straws which led to show striking changes in the graphs monitoring the neural activity.

Musk also revealed that the experimentation has been carried out in three such pigs having two brain implants each. The implanted pigs are physically indistinguishable from any regular pigs and there are no abnormalities in them. Moreover, the pigs with implantation have shown greater accuracy in limb movement during a treadmill run. The conclusion has been reached using the implant data. These pigs are now often described as “Cypork”.

Human trial

Previously, Musk has mentioned about the human trials beginning at the end of this year. But, on Friday, Elon Musk has not mentioned any specific timeline for the beginning of the human trail. Dr. Matthew MacDougall, the head surgeon of Neuralink said that the first clinical trial on humans will focus on a small group of patients suffering from paraplegia or paralysis. The company also confirmed that it has made many great innovations for the past four years and the long studies have come to an end. This might mean that the trails will begin shortly since the implantation in animals has shown positive results.

Elon Musk
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Treating several diseases 

Elon Musk has said the implantation device can solve many actual diseases in the human body like memory loss, hearing aid, depression, and insomnia. There are thousands of electrodes present in the computer chip which interacts with the human brain to cure complex neurological problems. Severe conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, spinal cord, injuries, etc can be cured as well. The size of the Neuralink’s chip is approximately 23 mm in diameter. Musk described it as “a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires.” So, it is impossible to distinguish a person with implantation from a normal person. In 2020, around 5.8 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia. So, an invention like this will be a big scientific and medical breakthrough. But, once it becomes a success, viability will be the main concern.

Expert’s feedback

In response to the high success rate of this experimentation, Graeme Moffat, a neuroscience research fellow from the University of Toronto said that Neuralink’s advancements are ahead of its time. The superior design of the computer chip with efficient power management, wireless technology, and smaller size makes it very innovative and impactful. One of the neuroscientists from Stanford University said that the company has made huge progress since last year’s demonstration about the chip.

But, some of them have contradicted the statement regarding the end of longer studies. A few fellow researchers around the world said longer studies might be required to determine the longevity of the device. Since the experts can read the brain waves after the chip has been implanted it will lead to a better understanding of the brain activity while suffering a disease.

Similar advancements

Musk’s neuroscience start-up, Neuralink has received $158 million in funding. But, he said that the main reason for Friday’s event was recruiting and not fundraising. Musk also spoke about AI and its role in this new Neuralink’s chip. He also said other companies like Kernel and Paradromics are carrying out similar experiments.