Neuralink

As a Brain Machine Interface (BMI) that functions as a brain reader and writer, it will be used to treat various patients (although the BMI is not new), such as Parkinson, OCD, Epilepsy, Dystonia and hearing impaired. Neuralink, enhanced current technology which has at most 100 wires while neuralink’s latest prototype contains more than a thousand! Furthermore, the size is thinner than the state-of-art BMI’s. See why Neuralink may impact the future of humanity through this article!

Neuralink, a neuroscience technology made by Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, enables humans to operate gadgets or machines by their thoughts, which means connecting and communicating with computers, in which a chip will be implanted into the brain by neurosurgeons with the help of robots in the process. So far, the trial has not been done with humans; however, it has been done with animals such as monkeys, rodents, and pigs. Besides the primary function to help the disabled communicate via both text and voice messages, it can be used in drawing, taking photos, memorizing, and other activities without having to make any physical movement. Moreover, the electrical signal of the brain can be studied and, therefore, will come up with better improvement and development in medical problems.

The chip, named N1, will be inserted surgically in the skull which contains a number of insulated wires. Although it might seem scary, the size is actually really tiny for around 8mm and the wire itself is thinner than a strand of hair. According to the president of Neuralink, Max Hodak, more than one device can be embedded in the brain for different sections. Furthermore, it is planned to operate phones and computers without physical touch.

How does it work?

In order to figure out the way Neuralink works, we may have to comprehend the way our brain processes information and distribute it to different areas of the human body by neurons.

Image 2: The Information Process

Source: Neuralink

Our brain consists of neurons that will transmit signals to the cell in our body such as gland, muscle, nerve. The neurons themselves are connected among each other through the synapses which release neurotransmitters, a chemical signal which enables neurons to communicate. In neuralink, the electrodes will read electric signals produced by some neurons in a human’s brain then will be resulted as an action or movement. The reaction will produce an electric field which can be recorded by placing electrodes nearby.

Neuralink can read what people are thinking and make way for communicating with machines without speaking by electrodes that can comprehend the electrical signal from the brain and then will be processed into an algorithm which is readable by machines. This in return will enable people to learn different sets of skills through a dedicated application.

Currently, a bluetooth radio is used by neuralink and should be ultimately wireless. However, if the gadget is installed outside the head, it will not detect the signals accurately as it is supposed to.

Pros and cons…

Image 3: Neuralink, yes or no?

Source: Getty Images/iStockphoto, 2019

Neuralink’s sophistication, which was actually created with a noble purpose, certainly has its pros and cons. The pros are, according to the PhD candidate at University Houston, Akshay Ravindran, neuralink gives no innate risk because of its non-invasive machine. Without having to undergo multiple processes, this brain chip is very effective and efficient with 99% accuracy following it. The sophistication of this technology is also followed with the aim of curing several diseases such as: autism, blindness, paralysis, memory and hearing loss, brain damage, insomnia, depression, and many more. The company’s Head of Surgeon, Matthew Mcdougall, said that neuralink had made great strides for human’s life but, for now, longer research and studies were extremely needed to develop and make this technology run properly and safely.

If there are pros, of course there are cons too, right?

Firstly, its sensitivity to the transmission of the neurons. Neuralink technology needs thousands of neurons to fire up together to generate signals that are strong enough to reach the skull. Otherwise, if the signal is weak, miscommunication and wrong interpretation may occur due to the lack and poor detection and translation.

Secondly, to make this system work, you must have a surgery to implant a chip inside your brain. This will increase the possibility of negative reactions and rejection, such as infection and inflammation, because the foreign objects inserted in your body, although its has a tiny-wires size that is roughly just 23 mm or 0.9 inch in diameter. The last thing to worry about is its vulnerability to being hacked and misused in inappropriate ways like malicious attacks. Neuralink technology, unfortunately, relies its function mainly on the internet and its services, which we all know are full of dangers. Furthermore, technology itself is unpredictable. Who knows that this futuristic technology will destroy and give massive catastrophes to humanity?

Image 4: Neuralink, technology that can change human’s life

Source : National Geographic Indonesia, 2021

Overall, if neuralink can work according to Elon Musk’s idea and plan accurately, it will provide an enormous advantage in human civilization for its contribution to creating a balance between humans and superintelligent AI so they can grow together and make mutual benefit symbiotic relationship in the future for better human’s life quality and society. How about you? Are you ready to accept and implant this futuristic technology inside your brain?

Written By: Wennie Chang & Rosella Veltin

Citations:

Neura Pod — Neuralink. February 5, 2021. Neuralink Pros and Cons with Akshay Ravindran. [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GXvzaBnSIU

Newsthink. August 31, 2020. How Neuralink Could Change Humanity Forever. [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39OHcCpt0Ds

Kenny L. July 18, 2019. What Is Neuralink: A Look At What It Is, What It Wants to Be, and What It Could Become. Retrieved from https://towardsdatascience.com/what-is-neuralink-a-look-at-what-it-is-what-it-wants-to-be-and-what-it-could-become-2acf32b51dc5

Kennedy R. April 17 2021. What is Neuralink? How Does The Technology Work and What Can a Person Do With It? Retrieved from https://www.republicworld.com/technology-news/other-tech-news/what-is-neuralink-how-does-the-technology-work-and-what-can-a-person-do-with-it.html

Rana A. NeuraLink : How it will change humanity, forever. Retrieved from https://adityarana2003.medium.com/neuralink-how-it-will-change-humanity-forever-a0ee32f905cc#:~:text=NeuraLink%20is%20a%20Brain%20Machine,thicker%20version%20of%20a%20coin.