- Zuckerberg believes that Musk’s company Neuralink won’t be appreciated by people in at least 10-15 years.
- Neuralink has introduced a chip called “Link” which is meant to be implanted in one’s brain via robotic surgery.
- Neuralink has made ambitious promises such as curing mental illnesses and paralyzed patients.
American billionaire and philanthropist Elon Musk is a well-known figure in the world of space, science, and technology due to his prowess in having his hands in multiple cookie jars
One such name which pops up in this regard is his bold futuristic firm Neuralink. Neuralink is the ambitious brainchild of Musk’s interest in experiments with biology-based computer interfaces.
What does Neuralink make?
Neuralink launched a brain chip, called the “Link”, which is almost the size of a large coin. This chip is meant to be implanted inside one’s brain by a robotic surgeon and is meant to connect one’s brain to the digital world, starting with one’s very own smartphone.
According to Musk, as soon as the operation is successful and time for recovery is completed, humans will gain the same powerful abilities as artificial intelligence(AI) bots such as Alexa or Siri. This means one will be able to surf a million websites in a matter of mere seconds.
Interestingly, the world got a taste of Musk’s brain implant in a live-streamed event back in 2021 called “Pigs in the Matrix.” On a giant screen, a real-time video of neurons firing in a test pig subject was played followed by a ringtone of the electrical activity in their brain.
Therapeutic goals for Neuralink
Experts believe that by using the basic BCI(Brain-Computer interfaces), they can use electrodes to replicate the normal biological activity of neurons (nerve cells) in the brain. Musk went on to call the Link chip a “Fitbit for the brain”.
This will even allow patients suffering from paralysis to send texts and shop from websites or simply use an electronic gadget, just by thinking about it.
Neuralink believes it can also cure patients suffering from various mental illnesses. Their chip can help in reducing triggering impulses produced by the brain which cause anxiety and depression while also being able to tackle autism. Also, the electrodes of this chip can help in firing non-functioning neurons of the brain which can help a patient with dementia regain even lost memories.
Furthermore, Musk believes Neuralink will be successful in treating morbid obesity. Morbid obesity is a condition characterized by having a body mass index(BMI) greater than 30.
Facing flak for imaginary goals?
Neuralink has always been at the center of controversy for its overreaching goals. Now it seems that joining its latest set of critics is none other than Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Appearing on Joe Rogan’s talk show, Zuckerberg joked that Musk and his company Neuralink won’t be embraced by “normal people” for an appreciable future.
Zuckerberg believes most regular people won’t like the idea of a Fitbit brain implant for at least 10-15 years. He reiterated that Neuralink would be ready in “a couple of decades.”
How will Meta tackle evolving challenges?
According to Zuckerberg, even Meta is investigating the scope of brain interface technology. He talked about evolving a mind-controlled system of technology that allows the integration of the brain and smart devices.
This project will allow communication via twitching the wrists instead of speaking or texting, such as with augmented reality. The wrist might be subtly twitched using neural interface technology so that no one even knows what one’s doing while also sending a message.
