Ever wondered if you can perform things just by the power of thinking? Well, you can with the help of the new neurotechnology called Neuralink. Read the article further to know more about what is Neuralink and how the Elon Musk brain chip can change the world.
What Is Neuralink And How Does It Work?
Neuralink is a Technology Company that is building an implantable, brain-computer interface that is designed to connect our brains directly to computers. Neurable is developing these non-invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCI) in the form of headphones. The Neuralink technology records and decodes neural signals and then uses electrical stimulations to transfer back the information.
“The Link” is the name given to the implant, and the chip is named “Telepathy.” The implant consists of a chip, which is a small as the size of a coin. It is surgically implanted under the skull, where it receives signals from neural wires that spread into different sections of the brain to read neuron activity and control motor skills. These implanted threads are so thin and flexible that they can’t be embedded by a human hand, and this is the reason why Neuralink has built a surgical robot for this purpose.
Once the chip is inserted, it registers brain activity and sends it to your device by using a Bluetooth connection. The implant will also enable people to overcome neurological disorders and help paraplegia patients to regain movement. An app is also in development that will allow people to manipulate a mouse and keyboard by only thinking.
The Elon Musk brain chip is not the same as mind reading as it is a neuro-chip that not only tracks the tasks you want to perform but also when you think of performing a task.
What Will Neuralink Do?
According to the website, Neuralink’s initial goal is to help paralysis patients regain their lost communication skills. It also intends to treat neurological disorders and restore sensory, motor, and visual functions. This device can also enhance human memory and cognitive abilities. Here are some disorders that Neuralink can treat.
- This helps people to restore their mobility by controlling their prosthetics or exoskeletons.
- The main focus of Neuralink is to help people who are unable to communicate. It helps non-verbal individuals by allowing them to have control over a virtual mouse and keyboard and to manipulate other devices by just thinking.
- Neurological disorder is a major condition that can be treated by monitoring brain activity. This can be possible by sending electrical stimulations to the targeted areas in the brain as a treatment.
- Elon Musk brain chip can also enhance cognitive abilities and improve a person’s memory.
Testing Neuralink Has Done So Far
Neuralink has run several trials on different animals like pigs, monkeys, rats, and sheep to receive FDA approval to try the Elon Musk brain chip technology on humans. The company after running trials on various animals, Neuralink showcased a video showing a monkey playing a classic pong game with the help of the device. The company received its FDA approval for human testing in May 2023 but also faced backlash from authorities and employees as it was held responsible for the death of more than 1500 animals during the testing phase.
In January 2024, Neuralink carried out its implant on its first human patient named Noland Arbaugh. The patient was Quadriplegic but is now successfully recovered and can control his laptop while lying down. A video of him playing chess online also surfaced recently. It was also reported that multiple threads retracted from the patient’s brain. It reduced the number of effective electrodes, and this is the reason why Neuralink canceled the second human brain implant.
Is Neuralink Safe?
The safety is what the trial is supposed to discover. Many animals have undergone lots of suffering and faced death during the testing phase of the Neuralink chip. But now, Elon Musk Brain Chip is considered relatively safe for humans as the company made sure that the process of installation and its use in continuity is secure and the potential risks involved are well understood.
FAQs
Q: When will Neuralink be available?
Neuralink has a long way to be a commercial project as it has a lot of testing ahead but Elon Musk said that he does intend on commercializing the project.
Q: How much will Elon Musk brain chip (Neuralink) cost?
Neuralink is still in the testing process and does not give an exact cost, but according to an estimate, it can cost around $10,500 and the insurance can higher up the price to $40,000.
Q: Are more companies doing projects like Neuralink?
According to an online database, right now there are approximately 40 brain-computer interface trials on the way.
