Elon Musk has announced that his Neuralink brain microchip is ready for use in humans and will soon seek approval from US regulators.
Neuralink has been described as the gateway to the future for interfacing with technology, with proponents claiming the microchip could fix a range of problems such as hearing and vision loss, while allowing people move in line with their eyes closed.
Musk revealed that he plans to install a chip in his own brain. “You could have a Neuralink device implanted right now and you wouldn’t even know it. I mean, hypothetically… Actually, in one of these demos, I will,” he said. He later confirmed on Twitter that he was considering implanting -get a chip in your brain at some point.
“We’re replacing a piece of skull with a smart watch, for lack of a better analogy,” he said.
Musk has long been an advocate of the “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” philosophy when it comes to artificial intelligence, believing that humans have the potential to successfully and safely interact with machines if the technology is developed and legislated responsibly.
“We want to be extremely careful and make sure it’s going to work well before we put a device on a human being, but I think we’ve submitted most of our paperwork to the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) and we think that probably d “In about six months, we should be able to have our first Neuralink in a human,” Musk said
The company that produces the polarizing device has already put out requests for volunteers willing to become the world’s first “implanted” humans.
Musk has revealed that the first two targeted human applications will be the restoration of vision and the reactivation of muscle movement.
However, still in its infancy, it is not yet certain what Neuralink could achieve.
His ability to change the human race forever could go far beyond what anyone could have imagined. But Musk has remained adamant the development of brain chips will benefit the planet despite its obvious drawbacks: a hole in the head is one.
“Even if someone has never had sight, never, like if they were born blind, we believe we can still restore sight,” he said.
Musk previously described the device as a “coin-shaped” implant inserted into the top of people’s skulls. From there, the device will be able to connect to the brain with all kinds of digital programs.
He has also freely commented on the need to “upgrade” the devices to the latest edition as the technology develops, meaning those who opt in will regularly undergo additional surgeries to implant new hardware.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t want an iPhone 1 stuck to your head if the iPhone 14 is available,” Musk said.
Unsurprisingly, the scheme has been criticized by critics, who say the notion of privacy will be completely removed the moment a company-produced brain chip can interact with your brain.
“No one can see inside your brain,” said Australian neurosurgeon Tom Oxley the guardian. “It’s only our mouths moving and our bodies that tell people what’s inside our brains… For people who can’t do that, it’s a horrible situation. What we’re doing is trying to help – them to take out what’s inside the skull. We’re totally focused on solving medical problems.”
In February, Neuralink backlash against its alleged treatment of monkeys in preliminary tests of the device.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) called out the company for causing “extreme suffering” to its test subjects. A statement sent to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that the monkeys were “brain-mutilated in shoddy experiments and left to suffer and die.”
The PCRM claims that Neuralink’s tests, conducted in collaboration with the University of California between 2017 and 2020, caused “extreme psychological distress” to test animals that were subjected to “crude surgeries.” According to the animal rights organization, the trials have caused up to a dozen deaths.
The group also alleges that other monkeys suffered serious side effects, including bloody skin infections and brain bleeds after having Neuralink devices implanted in their heads. The group based its allegations on documents obtained through public records requests.
Neuralink responded to the drama shortly after the scandal became public, explaining the complicated process involved in animal testing, revealing that early tests were carried out on cadavers and animals “considered by veterinary staff to be healthy enough for an anesthetic event , but they may not have the appropriate quality of life due to a pre-existing condition”.
“Neuralink animals are respected and honored by our team. Without proper context, information in medical records and study data can be misleading,” the statement said.
“It is important to note that these allegations come from people who oppose any use of animals in research.”
The company did not deny killing monkeys, but said it is “absolutely committed to working with animals in the most humane and ethical way possible.”
In 2021, University of Pennsylvania professor of medical ethics and health policy Anna Wexler warned the public to be wary of Musk’s claims, citing his tendency to exaggerate the capabilities of some of his companies.
“What worries me in the short term is the potentially false claims,” Wexler said at the time.
“Neuralink’s employees are scientists and engineers working on the development of what appears to be a legitimate device for medical purposes. Yet the company’s co-founder likes to make grand and grandiose claims about the potential of this same technology for cure all diseases and allow humans to merge with AI.”
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