-By Suyash Gupta
This novel and exceedingly innovative technology is a prime example of modern technology blurring the lines between science fiction and reality. Innovations like these are truly a testament to mankind’s ceaseless pursuit of becoming the master of its own destiny and a testament to our undying desire for constant improvement.
What this Idea Aims to Accomplish — An Overview –
Neuralink, founded in 2016 by Elon Musk, at its core aims to create an effective interface between the cortical region of the brain and AI or a symbiotic relationship between the human brain and AI. This in turn means that it can pave the path to various breakthroughs such as being able to upload and download thoughts, allowing the user to control wireless devices through mere thoughts. This could prove especially useful to paralyzed people, allowing them to use such devices despite their physical limitations.
This technology of brain and computer interfacing has been done before, however, they have certain issues that hinder their viability as stiff wires and electronics within the brain can lead to inflammation within the tissues of the brain. Neuralink, on the other hand, implements flexible floppy wires which can be safely embedded within the brain for longer periods without sustaining damage to the soft tissues.
Foundations of the Technology –
Technology which allows direct interactions between human brains and machines are not an entirely new concept, however, Elon Musk’s neuralink builds upon this foundation of existing technology to provide a unique approach to brain human interfaces to make them more viable, less invasive and have a wider reach.
Some examples of previously implemented Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) being put to use can be found in the early 2010s. For instance, in 2012 paralyzed patients were able to control a robotic arm connected to their brain. A way in which neuralink’s advanced can enhance such a function is by providing a sense of touch simulated in the robotic arm provided to the patient in question.
Implementation and what’s New –
The first stage in the implementation of Neuralink aims to reduce the invasive nature of current brain-machine interfaces. This step improves the manner in which the system is attached with the brain, as it uses a machine akin to a cross between a microscope and a sewing machine, using which it attaches various thin thread-like flexible conductors with a diameter about one-third that of hair to the brain’s neurons.
These conductors were implemented into the head of a rat and were allowed to feed data through a USB-C port attached to its head, and in doing so it provided more than 10 times the amount of data provided by the current best sensors in the market. Furthermore, the chip equipped with a USB-C port has been developed as a custom chip that is better suited to read, clean up, and amplify signals from the brain.
Plans for the Future –
The aforementioned method of using thread like conductors installed via a so-called “sewing machine”, in its present state has some limitations as holes must be drilled into the subject’s skull in order for the conductors to actually be placed. Keeping this in mind, future iterations of this machine will be developed to instead use lasers to penetrate the skull to allow the technology to be installed.
Additionally, the chip mentioned above is set to be modified in a manner so as to facilitate wireless data transmission via a product referred to as “N1 sensors”. The plan is to embed four of these sensors into the brain; three in motor regions and one in a somatosensor, which will be connected wirelessly to a device mounted behind the ear.
Above all this, however, the main plan for Neuralink is to read and amplified Neural spikes in the brain in a minimally invasive way paving a path to a successful merging and symbiosis with AI.
Obstacles faced by Neuralink –
So far, no tests have been carried out on human subjects owing to obvious ethical concerns. There are concerns that such a technology could compromise the free will of a person equipped with it, but, there are methods to subvert these issues, such as but providing protocols and two-way encryption between the brain and the machine.
It was planned for the technology to be tested on humans after refinement of the technology in late 2020; however, that may end up being delayed owing to the current unfortunate global circumstances. Besides, in order for such testing to be underway, the organization will have to gain approval from the FDA to proceed further.
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Neuralink, at the end of the day, is an excellent innovation that builds very well upon the foundation laid by formerly implemented technologies of its ilk. It could easily prove to be a huge leap in the progress of humanity and the augmentation of people, exploring never-before-seen facets of biotechnology.
It is without a doubt exciting to see this technology being augmented upon and for it to take a proper foothold in the markets of the future as it reaches the pinnacle of innovation.
References:-
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/703801v4
https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/16/20697123/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-reading-thread-robot
https://towardsdatascience.com/elon-musks-neuralink-everything-you-need-to-know-a19c35708f9a
