Elon Musk has shared an impressive update on Neuralink, the company he co-founded with a vision of connecting the human brain to artificial intelligence. During a recent discussion, Musk explained that his interest in the brain-computer interface stems from the need to mitigate the risks associated with superintelligent artificial intelligence. He argues that by increasing our ability to communicate with our “digital selves,” we can better align AI with humanity’s collective will.
One of the major challenges facing human-machine symbiosis is limited communication bandwidth. Musk noted that the output capacity of a human is less than one bit per second, which contrasts dramatically with the processing capabilities of modern computers, which operate in the trillions of bits per second. To address this problem, Neuralink is developing implants that may in the future enable a whole-brain interface, with the possibility of connecting up to a million electrodes to the brain.
Musk mentioned that his first Neuralink device has achieved records in extracting brain signals, reaching up to 10 bits per second in patients with injuries such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The goal is to reach 1,000 bits per second, which would represent a significant advance in mind-machine interaction. This initial approach focuses on patients with severe medical conditions, providing an opportunity to improve their quality of life.
The use of robotics in implant surgery has also been a major topic of conversation. Musk explained that robots can perform these procedures with precision that exceeds human capabilities, which is essential to scaling the technology to millions of people. Musk’s vision is for these devices to eventually be affordable, comparable in price to a smartphone, and implantable in rapid procedures, potentially in less than ten minutes.
With Neuralink’s recent FDA designation of a breakthrough for treating blindness, the prospects for this technology continue to expand. Musk concluded that in the long term, Neuralink is expected to be able to address a wide range of neurological problems, from neurodegenerative diseases to restoring motor functions in people with spinal cord injuries. Musk’s ambition is clear: to transform the way we interact with technology and, ultimately, improve human lives.
