On January 30, Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, a world-renowned company, and SpaceX, a space exploration technology company, revealed on TwitterNeuralink has successfully performed the world's first human brain implant surgery, and volunteers are now in the first stage. The preliminary results show the broad prospects of neuronal spike monitoring technology.
In the future,We only need to think with our brains, without words and actions, and we can achieve a heart-to-heart communication like a fantasySuch a wish has become a reality.
Telepathy, now it has become a reality
The world's first human brain-computer interface, Neuralink, has been precisely implanted into the human body. Musk then posted a message on Weibo saying that the operation had been declared complete and the patient was in good condition. Preliminary research has shown that Neuralink's technological potential is huge. An hour later,He further revealed that the company's first product was called"Telepathy"。
Brain-computer interface refers to the electrophysiological interconnection between computers and brain cells by implanting tiny electrodes in the brain, so that computers can transmit brain signals. Musk announced the first experimental product as early as 2019, the core principle of which is to use a laser to drill a wound in the head; It then avoids the important blood vessels of the brain and inserts wires in the central nervous system. WhileBy August 2020, to verify its efficacy, the research team had successfully implanted a similar device into live monkeys.
It is reported that Neuralink is working on the development of a device that can convert brain signals into action, mainly for two major medical fields:Restoring vision and using technology to help patients with involuntary muscle groups control smart devices and restore function throughout the body. Neuralink also plans to select people with ALS (quadriplegia due to spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) as test subjects, with the initial goal of enabling these paralyzed people to use their minds to manipulate a computer cursor or keyboard.
As for the brain implant process, the one used is called"r1"of bots through"n1"The device implants a chip in the agreed part of the brain, and the whole process takes about 15 minutes. After the chip is successfully implanted,Brain signals will be recorded and wirelessly transmitted to the decode motion intent app。Finally, the app parses the brain signals and connects to controlled peripherals via Bluetooth, while the patient controls an external mouse and keyboard via the neuralink app to achieve their expectations.
Judging by the appearance,"n1"The device is the size of a coin, and the internal independent battery allows for remote wireless charging with a compact and portable inductive charger. In the introduction of the neuralink official website, it is mentioned:"Its full biocompatibility makes it invisible on the outside, allowing the user to take control of their computer or mobile device anytime, anywhere"。
Telepathy, should be regulated
In fact, although brain-computer imaging has a long history, it is still limited to the field of scientific research. This is mainly due to the fact that intrusive electrodes are prone to cause rejection in the human body, resulting in long-term, safe and stable operation. However, according to the latest research in the industry, thanks to the rapid progress of emerging digital technologies such as AI, the development of key technologies such as biocompatible electrodes and minimally invasive implants, and the in-depth mining of many application scenarios, it is expected that brain-computer interfaces will enter a new round of rapid development.
According to statistics, the cost of each implant is roughly $10,500, including all the costs of examinations, parts and care, and it is expected that about $40,000 will be covered by the insurance company. At the same time, the company provided data to investors that the number of surgeries is expected to climb year by year from 2027Eventually, it will reach 22,204 cases in 2030. In the event of no unforeseen circumstances, it is expectedNeuralink is expected to generate up to $100 million in annual revenue over five years.
However, it is important to note that although patients with ALS and quadriplegia cannot directly improve their primary condition through brain-computer interfaces, their quality of life can be improved. In fact, for Musk, the promotion of brain-computer interfaces is not the disease itself, but part of realizing human intelligence.
He aims to expand us into 2Version 0, i.e. AI Human. Given that our cognitive capabilities are limited to 10 bytes per second, and AI output is already billions of bytes, it is becoming increasingly difficult for humans and machines to communicate. Therefore, he hopes to empower humans with stronger intelligence with the help of brain-computer interfaces, in order to live in harmony with AI.
Imagine that once a patient can regain their ability to stand and walk, see or hear again with the help of a brain-computer interface, the world will appreciate the greatness of neuralink technology. With the rapid development of scientific and technological innovation theories, the pace of industry implementation has accelerated, and the integration of multiple disciplines and research results have laid the foundation for industrial development.
However, the safety risks and ethical issues raised by brain-computer interfaces have always been in the spotlight. In the future, brain-computer interfaces may become public applications between peopleSo how do you ensure security in this process? Who has the right to control the human brain? How should peripherals be managed and regulated between the human brain and the human machine?
Sophia suggested that legislation should be enacted to ensure that BCIs operate within the framework of the law, so as to avoid ethical problems.