Introduction
Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink, got approval in the US to test on humans. This is his big project to make our brains talk to computers.
What is Neuralink?
Neuralink is a company started by Musk and a group of scientists and engineers in 2016. Their goal is to create direct links between the brain and computers for communication.
The goal is to make humans much better at things, fix neurological conditions like ALS or Parkinson’s, and create a close bond between people and artificial intelligence. Neuralink’s main tool is an implant called the “Link” – a small device about the size of five stacked coins that goes into the brain through surgery.
What is Neuralink for?
In the beginning, the company aimed to help paralyzed people. They made special threads to put in the brain and a robot to implant them. These threads would let paralyzed people control things with their thoughts, like phones or computers.
In 2023, they got approval to test this on humans. They put the device in the first person and called it Telepathy. Elon Musk, the boss, said it could help paralyzed people communicate fast.
But Musk’s real goal is to connect humans with artificial intelligence (AI). He wants to make sure humans don’t fall behind as AI gets smarter.
However, there are big risks with this technology. Some people say the way they put the device in the brain could be dangerous. Also, there are worries about privacy if companies can read people’s thoughts.
So, while helping paralyzed people is good, we need to think about the risks and what these new technologies mean for everyone.
Neuralink: Bridging Humanity and Superintelligence
In 2019, Musk talked to Lex Fridman on a podcast about Neuralink. He said Neuralink aims to deal with the big risks of super-smart computers.
Musk believes if we can’t beat these computers, we should work with them. He thinks it’s like joining forces with them.
In 2020, Musk said Neuralink could do amazing things. He mentioned people might save and replay memories, similar to what’s seen in “Black Mirror.” Also, he said they might be able to control their cars just by thinking about it.
What if Neuralink’s way works really well?
Imagine if your government uses brain devices to watch and question people. The right to keep quiet about crimes, which is in the US Constitution, might not matter if the authorities can listen to your thoughts without you agreeing to it.
Some experts worry that devices like the ones Neuralink makes could be hacked. What if someone intercepts the Bluetooth connection and changes what your brain hears, making you feel more sad or obedient? They call this brainjacking. It hasn’t happened yet, but experts have shown it could be possible without needing fancy technology.
Also, think about how having a brain device or getting it removed could mess with who you are. There was a lady who got one for her epilepsy, and she felt like it was a part of her. But when the company that put it in her went out of business and she had to take it out, she felt like she lost herself.
Elon Musk wants to connect our brains with machines to protect us from a super-smart AI in the future. But doing this has its own dangers, and they’re already here.
How much will a Neuralink cost?
The company estimates each surgery to put in the implant will cost about $10,500. This includes check-ups, materials, and work. They plan to charge insurance companies around $40,000 for each surgery. They predict they could make as much as $100 million in a year within five years. In 2024, they plan to do 11 surgeries, 27 in 2025, and they aim to do 79 in 2026.