Elon Musk’s company Neuralink has been kept under wraps for the past two years. Since its founding in 2017, the company has remained silent about its progress to develop a data transmission system between people and computers.
Neuralink Finally Shows What It Can Do
But recently, the company had its first demonstration in front of a reporter showing how far it has come since its inception.
The startup showed that it can record a rat’s brain activity via “thousands of tiny electrodes surgically implanted alongside the animal’s neurons and synapses,” according to BloombergBusiness.
In order to place high-speed computer systems within a brain and cause minimal damage when compared to existing methods, Neuralink has achieved multiple scientific breakthroughs.
Next Step, Humans
Now, Musk’s secretive startup is ready to begin trialing the technology on humans. According to reports, it is already looking for approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to start clinical trials on humans come early 2020.
And the goal is as futuristic in nature as it sounds; Neuralink will drill four 8mm holes into the skulls of paralyzed patients and insert electronic nodes or implants, which will give the patients the ability to control computers and smartphones using their thoughts.
The go-to opinion is to think this an impossible feat. But company President Max Hodak is encouraging people to believe what they hear:
“A lot of people have written this off like it’s impossible […] There will be great things to come in this field in the next decade, and they should take it seriously.”
Cybernetically Enhanced
Founded in 2017, Neuralink has already raised more than $150 million from investors. Musk himself has placed a $100 million stake in the company. As CEO, Musk obviously has faith in his own company and what it is trying to achieve.
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At a news conference in San Fransisco last night, the tech-entrepreneur predicted that in the not-too-distant future, many will choose to become cybernetically enhanced; upgraded, if you will. He said the following at the event:
“This is going to sound pretty weird, but ultimately, we will achieve symbiosis with artificial intelligence […] This is not a mandatory thing. It is a thing you can choose to have if you want. This is something that I think will be really important on a civilization-level scale.”
Musk’s more widely known publicly-traded company, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), is seeing shares rise today. Perhaps this is in response to its CEO’s extra-curricular activities? Or maybe not; TSLA stock has climbed significantly since June 3. At a price of $253.33 USD at present, stock is up 41% since the aforementioned date.
What are your thoughts on Neuralink? Is this the stuff of science-fiction or do you think Musk’s startup could pull off the impossible?
Featured Image: DepositPhotos © monsit
