Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface (BCI) startup, Neuralink, has reached a significant milestone with its second human trial.
The announcement came during an episode of the Lex Fridman podcast where Musk casually mentioned the successful progress of the second implant, stating, “so far so good.” This second implant is reportedly working efficiently with around 400 electrodes providing signals.
Brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, are sophisticated devices that enable communication between the human brain and computers through thoughts alone. While it may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, BCIs have been in development for decades. The underlying principle is relatively straightforward: the brain’s activity generates electrical signals that can be measured by a machine. Just as an FM radio interprets specific FM signals as distinct broadcasts, a computer can decode different electrical signals as unique commands. BCIs serve as the conduit that measures and transmits these signals, with some being wearable and others, like Neuralink’s, requiring surgical implantation.
Neuralink’s first human recipient, Noland Arbaugh, has shared numerous testimonials about the life-changing impact of the device. Arbaugh, who was paralyzed in a diving accident, regained the ability to control computer interfaces such as mouse pointers to play video games, send text messages, and browse the web using only his thoughts after receiving the implant.
Elon Musk has ambitious plans for Neuralink, suggesting that it could bestow extraordinary abilities upon humans. “Let’s give people superpowers,” he remarked. Musk envisions Neuralink making it possible to grant humans thermal vision, eagle-like eyesight, and even the ability to restore lost vision. He also claims it could cure various diseases and heal neurological disorders. Musk further speculated that people would find traditional methods of interacting with humans and computers “agonizingly slow” compared to the rapid communication enabled by the implant.
While the concept of faster communication is enticing, basic sociology might beg to differ. Consider elephants, which use about 70 different trumpet sounds and approximately 140 visual and tactile signals. Despite their efficiency, elephants do not write literature or scientific papers. Humans, on the other hand, possess around 27,000 lemmas (word derivations) and countless non-verbal signals. Research indicates that our brains process body language and expressions more quickly than written or verbal communication. Essentially, humans cannot communicate faster than the speed of thought.
Musk also hinted at the potential for humans to merge with AI systems through Neuralink, thereby expanding their brain’s capabilities. However, there is currently no scientific research to substantiate this claim. A paper published in 2019 speculated about a futuristic technology called “neuralnanorobotics,” which could theoretically monitor the brain’s “86 × 10^9 neurons and ∼2 × 10^14 synapses.” However, the timeline for such advancements could span decades or even centuries.
Neuralink’s progress is undoubtedly impressive, but its promise of “superpowers” remains speculative. As the second human trial unfolds, the world watches with bated breath to see how this groundbreaking technology will evolve and what new frontiers it may reach in the realm of human capability.
