Neuralink - From the Mind of Elon to the Mind of Humanity

Elon Musk unveils Neuralink news at a press event. Source: Nextwider.com (Creative Commons license).

Neuralink Corporation was founded by Elon Musk with 8 other co-founders in 2016. The co-founders come from different fields such as neuroscience, robotics, and biochemistry. Its aim is to develop an interface that could connect the human brain and machines. More broadly, Neuralink wants to make devices capable of treating serious conditions and enhancing human capabilities.

The neuroscience company has its headquarters in San Francisco, USA. Elon Musk is the majority shareholder.

To date, Neuralink has received more than 150 million dollars in funding, with most of it coming from Musk alone.

Milestones

Neuralink showcased a monkey playing the game Pong in April 2021 with a Neuralink implanted chip. It was an improvement over similar technologies in terms of the number of the implanted electrodes.

The company also claims its robot can insert many flexible probes in the brain, with enough accuracy to reduce tissue damages significantly. The robot can insert 192 electrodes in a minute. 

Neuralink has also developed an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit that will convert data from neurons into binary code

Neuralink has also developed an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit that will convert data from neurons into binary code, which will enable a better understanding of how the brain works and stimulates neurons.

Perception

The company has a polarizing effect on the science community, with some experts questioning the motive behind the creation of the company.

Other experts have raised doubts about the claims and methods of Neuralink. The founder of Openwater, another company in the neuroscience sector, has faulted Neuralink’s probes, due to the rejection reactions that they cause.

The prestigious MIT Technology Review has also described Neuralink’s claims to cure diseases like blindness and paralysis with a skull implant as highly speculative.

Neuralink is also often criticized by animal rights groups for its use of live animals for tests.