Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Science
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / Science News / Musk gives live demo of Neuralink's upgraded brain-computer implant
  • Science

    Musk gives live demo of Neuralink's upgraded brain-computer implant

    Shubham Sharma
    Written by
    Shubham Sharma
    Twitter
    Last updated on Aug 29, 2020, 09:40 am
    Musk gives live demo of Neuralink's upgraded brain-computer implant
  • A few hours ago, Elon Musk took to the stage to unveil the upgraded brain-computer implant developed by Neuralink, a start-up he co-founded in 2016 to connect humans with machines.

    The device builds on the one debuted last year, and the billionaire tech mogul also gave a live demo of how it works - on pigs.

    Here is all about it.

  • In this article
    The tech debuted last year Now, there's an all-in-one design, sitting flush with the skull Receiver module not even visible Musk gave a live demo of the tech Second pig's neural activity displayed in real-time Currently, tech detects signals from brain's surface Plan to have 1,024 electrodes implanted Work will help in solving neurological problems, physical injuries How much will this cost? Ultimate goal to establish a symbiosis with AI
  • Last year

    The tech debuted last year

    The tech debuted last year
  • Last year, Musk demonstrated a sewing machine-like surgical robot to implant thin and flexible electrode-covered wires into the head of a person and a receiver module on the skull's surface, near the ear.

    This receiver picked up signals from the electrodes and subsequently transmitted them to a computer; it was smaller than other BCIs in the market but still big enough to be seen.

  • Device

    Now, there's an all-in-one design, sitting flush with the skull

    Now, there's an all-in-one design, sitting flush with the skull
  • In today's event, the Tesla boss showcased a V2 prototype of the automated surgical system which can insert the implant in under an hour without general anesthesia.

    More importantly, the implant itself has gotten smaller in favor of an all-in-one design, where the wire electrodes are 5 micron-wide while the receiver they connect to is coin-shaped, meant to sit flush with the skull.

  • Do you know?

    Receiver module not even visible

  • The design changes are so significant that the receiver, dubbed Link 0.9, is not even visible. It measures just 23mm x 8mm in size and is surgically positioned in place. Musk described the whole thing "like a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires."

  • Demo

    Musk gave a live demo of the tech

    Musk gave a live demo of the tech
  • At the event, Musk gave a demo of the tech with three pigs - one that never had an implant, second that had it, and the third that had it only for some time.

    Through the first and the third case, Musk emphasized that both pigs behaved as usual, which shows that the implant could be removed for potential hardware upgrades, without any issues.

  • Second pig

    Second pig's neural activity displayed in real-time

    Second pig's neural activity displayed in real-time
  • The second pig in the demo, Gertrude, had the Link recording signals from an area of the brain that was linked to its snout.

    This way, as Gertrude touched and smelled, the neural interface it had in place for two months picked up signals of neurons firing.

    The signals were displayed through a series of dots and noises on a display.

  • Working

    Currently, tech detects signals from brain's surface

  • In its current form, Neuralink's brain-computer interface only records and transmits signals from the brain's cortical surface - the region responsible for important functions like movement, vision, and hearing.

    However, eventually, the company plans to insert them deeper into the grey matter to monitor deeper brain activity. There are not many details around this yet.

  • Target

    Plan to have 1,024 electrodes implanted

  • Neuralink hopes that the system will allow them to implant thin, flexible wires covered in 1,024 electrodes to pick up brain activity and transmit that data through Link at megabit speeds.

    Musk says that they have managed to implant 1,500 electrodes in mice, although human trials are yet to begin. Previously, he had suggested that the device would go into a human in 2020.

  • Possibilities

    Work will help in solving neurological problems, physical injuries

  • With Neuralink's BCI to monitor and stimulate brain activity, people should be able to get early warnings of imminent strokes and heart attacks.

    Plus, the device might be able to solve several neurological problems, including memory loss and strokes, and also help patients regain their lost senses of sight or hearing.

    The first trials will see patients with spinal cord injuries have the implant.

  • Information

    How much will this cost?

  • Musk says that the tech will be quite expensive when it launches but eventually it will retail at the same price of a LASIK vision correction procedure. Take it with a pinch of salt.

  • Ultimate goal

    Ultimate goal to establish a symbiosis with AI

    Ultimate goal to establish a symbiosis with AI
  • The developments with this technology will ultimately build towards a system that will help Neuralink "achieve a symbiosis with artificial intelligence".

    This would help humans keep up with the advancement of AI and ensure the "democratization of intelligence" by keeping it from staying in a purely digital form.

    Musk says this particular symbiosis could be a reality in the order of a decade.

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Elon Musk
  • Technology
  • Tesla
  • Neuralink
  •  
Latest News
  • Coronavirus: India's tally reaches 11.15 million with 17K+ new cases
    Coronavirus: India's tally reaches 11.15 million with 17K+ new cases
    India
  • NewsBytes Briefing: Twitter brings Clubhouse to the masses, and more
    NewsBytes Briefing: Twitter brings Clubhouse to the masses, and more
    Science
  • What causes sleep apnea? Its symptoms and long term effects
    What causes sleep apnea? Its symptoms and long term effects
    Lifestyle
  • Realme 8's key specifications revealed in an official teaser
    Realme 8's key specifications revealed in an official teaser
    Science
  • Samsung Galaxy A50s receives new camera features via OTA update
    Samsung Galaxy A50s receives new camera features via OTA update
    Science
Related Timelines
  • #WeeklyRecap: Apple bans Epic, Zoom's outage, TikTok's crisis, and more
    #WeeklyRecap: Apple bans Epic, Zoom's outage, TikTok's crisis, and more
    Science
  • Elon Musk's Neuralink is set to unveil 'working' brain-computer interface
    Elon Musk's Neuralink is set to unveil 'working' brain-computer interface
    Science
  • Elon Musk says AI will outsmart humans in 5 years
    Elon Musk says AI will outsmart humans in 5 years
    Science
  • Elon Musk to soon give update on brain-computer interface company
    Elon Musk to soon give update on brain-computer interface company
    Science
Trending Topics
Samsung Amazon OnePlus Mobiles Android TV Smart TV Latest Gadget Launch MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ COVAXIN Latest Tech News Upcoming Mobile Phones
Next News Article
Share
Cancel

Want to share it with your friends too?

Facebook Whatsapp Twitter Linkedin
Copied

Love Science news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

Science Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Science News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Bharti Airtel Mukesh Ambani Twitter Indian Premier League Samsung Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma Cricket News YouTube Hollywood News WhatsApp Bollywood News ISRO Rahul Gandhi Yoga Honda
Batman Football News BMW Vaccine Reliance Jio OPPO Amazon Food News, Healthy Recipes Royal Challengers Bangalore Toyota
Fashion Tips Mercedes Isha Ambani India Vs England Cricket OnePlus Mobiles Android TV Smart TV Marvel Comics Avengers Neha Kakkar
Big Bang Theory X-Men TATA Royal Enfield
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us News Reviews News Archive Topics Archive Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2021