The entrepreneurial engineer moves closer to testing his mind-altering invention on volunteers.
Neuralink might be the hottest technological topic of modern times, and it’s not hard to see why.
The tiny device – which is no larger than a coin – is wired into the brain of a potential user. Once installed, Musk says, it could carry plenty of different applications, including the telepathic control of computers, perfect memory recall, and even curing a whole host of neurological defects.
What sounds like a farfetched sci-fi fantasy, though, could be just around the corner, if Elon’s recent claims are to be believed. One of his followers, who suffered an accident that left him paralysed, told the Tesla and SpaceX boss that he had offered his mind and body for the trials.
Musk responded: “Neuralink is working super hard to ensure implant safety & is in close communication with the FDA. If things go well, we might be able to do initial human trials later this year.”
Risky Robotics
For many, this technology is incredibly exciting. The tech giant believes that the sky is the limit with his new innovation, suggesting that humanity could reap endless benefits from this revolutionary implant.
In an interview with Joe Rogan, Musk explains that, for him, the human attachment to our mobile phones already makes us cyborgs.
Most people are inseparable from the internet, and we have created an extension of our lives that exists and operates entirely online.
We are already connected through phones and laptops. But these are relatively slow and primitive technologies when compared to Neuralink, especially considering the bond it could create between a person and their device.
But by Musk’s own admission, the potential power of Artificial Intelligence is terrifying. and his “if you can’t beat em, join em” attitude to human-computer symbiosis is hardly a comfort.
Does Neuralink have the potential to make the world a better place? Yes.
Is AI an altogether frightening concept? Absolutely.
Is it worth worrying about? Let’s wait and see. For now, we’re marvelling at the miracle of science, and we’re hopeful that this technology will make the world a better place for those who need it.
Developments like this are sure to make anyone ridiculously rich. Here are 5 things Elon Musk could do now that he’s the wealthiest person on earth.
