A fitbit in your brain? Elon Musk’s Neuralink explained

The aim of Elon Musk’s company - Neuralink, is to allow humans to control machines with their brain by developing Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI).

What is Neuralink?

It is a gadget/chip that will be surgically inserted inside a human brain by neurosurgeons with the help of robots. The chip - called Link - is implanted in the skull.

History -

In 1924, Hans Berger, a German psychiatrist, used electroencephalography (EEG) to record human brain activity. EEG is a process that uses electrodes to measure the electrical activity of the brain.

Our brain consists of neurons that are connected to one another and they send signals to each other. When neurons release chemical substances - neurotransmitters to other neurons, it causes a flow of current.

This flow of current creates an electric field in the brain. The chip detects these electrical signals, and they are used as an output - action/movement to control the external devices.

Applications -

With this technology, people with paralysis can easily operate their phones and computers directly with their brain. It will help to cure brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Self-driving cars could be another application

Complex Issues to consider -

1. What about the privacy of the person after surgery? Tech-users are already struggling with privacy concerns with big tech companies like Google and Facebook.

2. Who will be responsible for the actions of a machine?

Laws on it are not yet in place and that can cause trouble in society. “If a person were to commit a crime by way of brain-computer interface, what would the ‘criminal act’ be? ” - Dr Allan McCay & Dr Nicole Vincent.

Current developments -

1. Neuralink’s brain-computer interface prototype works in pigs.

2. Neuralink raised $205 million from Google Ventures and others.

3. Clinical trials on humans are lined up. 

Final Note: The future may see more collaboration between humans and machines,and Neuralink is one of them. The possibilities are endless and the potential to innovate is higher than ever. But one thing is clear that AI will play a huge role in our future lives.