So what has Neuralink done? Well, the company has developed a chip that can replace missing neurons in the brain. It will be available for human patients next year, and its researchers have already experimented with pigs, including Gertrude, named after Musk. And if all this sounds too good to be true, it’s not – five former employees of Neuralink describe the company as chaotic and under pressure, with accelerated timelines causing animal experiments to fail.
As the second generation of Neuralink electrode implant has been developed, it fits into a hollowed-out part of the skull. Tiny electrode threads that penetrate the outer surface of the brain detect the electrical impulses of the nerve cells. This information helps the Neuralink device send back signals to the computer. This means that it’s possible to see what’s happening inside the brain. However, the device doesn’t have the capacity to perform any actual medical procedures.
Neuralink is a complex company that’s built on complex technologies. While Deku was not part of the founding team, she was instrumental in the process. As a result, the company has had to face several obstacles along the way. Its engineers needed to make decisions before the data from animal research was available. Animal research takes months, and Neuralink had to act in days. Not to mention the high turnover rates.
Although not yet ready for human trials, the Neuralink chip may be able to treat severe neurological conditions. If successful, the Neuralink chip could eventually cure Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Ultimately, it could even allow humans to control robotic prostheses with their thoughts. And who knows, a day may come when this technology becomes available to the public. In the meantime, the research continues. But, for now, it’s still a long way away.
What has Neuralink done? – The company has been quietly working on the development of a computer-brain interface since 2016. The company has been very secretive about its plans until Tuesday night, when it unveiled its vision. The device will have 3000 implanted electrodes, each monitoring one thousand neurons. These electrodes will be embedded in 100 microscopic threads – thinner than human hair. And it’s not just the electrodes that will be implanted in the brain, but the electrodes themselves, which are 20 times thinner than human hair, will be placed inside the skull to help read the activity of the brain.
While Neuralink’s research remains murky, it’s worth noting that the company has successfully controlled monkeys using the technology. Neuralink researchers have also been able to implant 1,500 electrodes in a lab rat. And while Neuralink has been quiet about progress in research, there’s a possibility that it could eventually help people with spinal conditions, paralysis, and brain damage. Neuralink researchers have even hinted on the technology’s potential applications in treating depression.