Neuralink Elona Musk has announced that she has received approval for the first human trials of her brain implant, although she did not provide further details about what it is. Photo: Britta Pedersen-Pool/Getty
Elon Musk wants to put a mind-reading chip in your brain. The question is, will anyone let him?
On Friday, Mr. Musk's Neuralink announced that it had received approval for the first human trials of its brain implant, although it did not provide more details about what that would entail.
The company promised to «create a generalized brain interface to restore autonomy for those with unmet medical needs and unlock human potential.»
Undoubtedly, the medical benefits could be huge, potentially allowing the blind to see while the paralyzed to walk.
But it's part of Neuralink's «unleash human potential» mission that makes people nervous. Once Musk cures the lame, he plans to create Human 2.0.
Connecting the brain to computers
The company aims to create a symbiotic relationship between people and technology, connecting the brain to computers, allowing instant access to information or even communication with others only through thoughts.
Criticists already squeamish about Mr. Musk's growing influence on world events are unlikely to approve of his intervention in their cerebral cortex.
It is this shift from medical to consumer product that could be the cause of Neuralink's downfall.
For starters, regulators will be reluctant to approve a device that requires brain surgery for non-medical reasons. The risk of infections, tissue damage, brain hemorrhages, immune responses and personality changes is high.
That's before you get to the ethical issues associated with having technology that can peer into the private world of our thoughts.
Elon Musk stands next to a surgical robot during the Neuralink presentation. Photo: Neuralink/AFP/Getty
Several universities have already demonstrated that it is possible to decode brain waves into words, images, or movements, but so far this has only been done for medical reasons.
Just this week, Swiss scientists announced they have helped a paralyzed man walk again with a mind-reading device that causes muscles to fire when he thinks about a step.
Last July, the first participant was equipped with a reading chip thoughts created by Synchron, an American biocompany. is a technology company backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.
The device sits in a blood vessel near the motor cortex, where it picks up neurological signals and translates them into actions that allow people with severe paralysis to send text messages and emails or access online banking, shopping, and remote healthcare.
Such brain chips could revolutionize opening up the world to people stuck in their diseased bodies. Perhaps in a few years they will become available if the tests are successful.
But the idea that one day people will be equipped with chips that will connect them to the Internet belongs to the realm of science fiction.< /p>Useless invention
To begin with, the technology is nowhere near capable of what Musk ultimately envisioned. The most that implants can do now is to move the cursor around the screen or convert thoughts into movement or speech.
For any capable person, this is a useless invention.
Dr. Dean Burnett, Honorary Fellow, Cardiff University, said: “Ultimately, this is a case of people going through costly and risky medical procedures to do what they can do very easily, with minimal effort and zero cost, at minimal cost. with your own hands.
Of course, there is always the “Mask factor”. The tech billionaire has an uncanny knack for pushing seemingly impossible projects, a bottomless stream of income, and a ruthless refusal to give up on his favorite projects.
This time, I suspect it will be too far, and Neuralink's consumer division will end up eventually become the Google Glass of its time. Cool, fun, but ultimately pointless.
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