Musk's Neuralink will implant 'threads' to connect humans with computers
Elon Musk's super secretive start-up Neuralink has finally revealed how they plan to connect humans with computers. The company held a private event and unveiled the brain-computer interface (BCI) it has been developing over the last two years to treat neurological diseases and ultimately pave the way for a healthy merger of humans with artificial intelligence (AI). Here's all about this system.
Several minute threads to be implanted into human brain
At the event, Musk claimed Neuralink plans to implant a number of thin and highly flexible threads deep into the human brain. The implants, inserted with the help of a sewing machine-like robot, would use an array of electrodes to read and transmit brain signals to a receiver on the skull surface. From there, the data would go to a computer system, wirelessly.
This will give new life to the differently-abled
Though the current version of the tech relies on using needles to insert threads sized about a quarter of human hair in diameter, future versions would be able to do the same via lasers. This, as Musk says, would be able to restore limb function for people suffering from paralysis or revive their ability to see, talk, and listen in the future.
Ultimate goal to establish a symbiosis with AI
The developments with this BCI tech will ultimately build towards a system which will help Neuralink "achieve a symbiosis with artificial intelligence". This would help humans keep up with the advancement of AI and ensure "democratization of intelligence" by keeping it from staying in a purely digital form. Musk says this particular symbiosis could be a reality in the order of a decade.
Humans trials to begin next year
Interestingly, Neuralink claims to have achieved a major breakthrough while testing the BCI on rats to record their neural activity. The system worked without doing any damage to their brains, and now, Musk and company are looking to translate that development into human-computer connection. They hope to start trials on human subjects sometime around the second quarter of next year.
How painful thread implantation would be
In the initial tests, the threads would be implanted under anesthesia. The company would be using micro-sized needles for drilling the holes and the whole experience would be pretty painless. Once the hole is plugged with a sensor, the system will start collecting data.
