But today, this near-future technology is almost a reality thanks to research from companies like Neuralink.
Who Built Neuralink?
The private venture launched in 2016 with an initial team of seven scientists and engineers.
As Neuralink’s mission statement reads:
How far have they come?
After initial (and controversial) trials on primates, the company opened FDA-approved human trials in 2023.
What Is Neuralink Supposed to Do?
Unlike many other brain-computer interfaces (BCI), Neuralink is designed to be small and unobtrusive.
The company says it intends it to be “cosmetically invisible” with a thickness of a mere 8mm.
The N1 prototype implant contains 1024 electrodes and 64 microscopic threads.
The threads are surgically implanted into the brain and strategically placed to record and stimulate neural activity.
The electrodes measure brain activity and translate it into action.
The implant is designed to be invisible when placed under the skin.
It will be wirelessly powered from the outside with a compact inductive charger.
At aNeuralink livestreamin 2020, Elon Musk likened the machine to a Fitbit inside our skulls.
The goal is to seamlessly implant it within an hour without general anesthesia.
He also said it wouldn’t be scalable if neurosurgeons had to do it with a major surgery.
What Is Neuralink Used For?
The profile of the volunteers Neuralink is seeking right now gives an idea of its potential applications.
This pop in of paralysis causes loss of motor movements and the body’s automatic processes.
Ultimately, Neuralink is being designed to be used in a variety of applications.
If Neuralink is successful, then it will be a groundbreaking advancement.
But it’s important to manage expectations.
Just imagine the amount of information in a web link of 100 billion neurons and over 100 trillion synapses.
Note
Elon Musk isn’t alone in this area of BCI neurotechnology research.
Several neurotechnology companies like Synchron, Kernel, and Paradromics are working on similar interfaces.
