In the realm of developments in brain-machine interface technology, Neuralink, a neurotechnology company, was created by an entrepreneur and billionaire known for his exploits in electric cars as well as space travel, Elon Musk, who is also its co-founder. It is this artificial brain chip called Neuralink that has again hit the waves after they recently released a video of a monkey playing video games with its mind.
One of the biggest news this year has been the achievement of Neuralink, which successfully implanted a brain chip into a human body. Just a few days ago, a live stream featured the astonishing progress made in this field. In that stream, Noland Arbaugh, who is 29 years old, is paralyzed from the neck down due to a diving accident and had this implant done in January this year, showed how he can play chess without using any physical activity with his body but only with his mind because of the Neuralink chip.
Arbaugh, for example, expressed his thrill in these words: “I am also taking up the challenge with others, and it’s been awesome, it’s been so cool.” This showcases what the brain chip is capable of and the impact it could have on changing the lives of those paralyzed.
Musk also shared his vision for the technology, suggesting that in the long run, it could help paralyzed people recover from spinal damage and walk again. This bold request instilled hope and happiness in millions of people around the world. Social media users shared their fears and hopes for the future of Neuralink. Some even joked about using Neuralink technology to control robots or replace missing limbs, showing interest and hope in this important development.
Despite the excitement, some experts expressed concerns about Neuralink’s transparency and communication. Marcello Ienca, a professor of ethics in intelligence and neuroscience, criticized the way the company published the research, saying it would not have the necessary rigor.
Still, the latest live stream has rekindled excitement about Neuralink’s potential to change people’s lives. Technology has the potential to not only help those who are paralyzed regain their mobility but also to create new avenues for human-machine interaction.
